title: Yellow fever virus: genetic and phenotypic diversity and implications for detection, prevention and therapy.
abstract: Yellow fever virus (YFV) is the prototypical hemorrhagic fever virus, yet our understanding of its phenotypic diversity and any molecular basis for observed differences in disease severity and epidemiology is lacking, when compared to other arthropod-borne and haemorrhagic fever viruses. This is, in part, due to the availability of safe and effective vaccines resulting in basic YFV research taking a back seat to those viruses for which no effective vaccine occurs. However, regular outbreaks occur in endemic areas, and the spread of the virus to new, previously unaffected, areas is possible. Analysis of isolates from endemic areas reveals a strong geographic association for major genotypes, and recent epidemics have demonstrated the emergence of novel sequence variants. This review aims to outline the current understanding of YFV genetic and phenotypic diversity and its sources, as well as the available animal models for characterizing these differences in vivo. The consequences of genetic diversity for detection and diagnosis of yellow fever and development of new vaccines and therapeutics are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555, United States; Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555, United States; Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555, United States; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555, United States. Electronic address: d.beasley@utmb.edu.
authors.forename: David W C
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McAuley
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555, United States; Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555, United States; Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555, United States; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D015004:Yellow Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D022341:Yellow Fever Vaccine; D015005:Yellow fever virus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D022341:Yellow Fever Vaccine
keywords: Animal model; Evolution; Genotype; Yellow fever virus