title: Genomic characterisation of three Mapputta group viruses, a serogroup of Australian and Papua New Guinean bunyaviruses associated with human disease.
abstract: The Mapputta serogroup tentatively contains the mosquito-associated viruses Mapputta, Maprik, Trubanaman and Gan Gan. Interestingly, this serogroup has previously been associated with an acute epidemic polyarthritis-like illness in humans; however, there has been no ensuing genetic characterisation. Here we report the complete genome sequences of Mapputta and Maprik viruses, and a new Mapputta group candidate, Buffalo Creek virus, previously isolated from mosquitoes and detected by serology in a hospitalised patient. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the group is one of the earliest diverged groups within the genus Orthobunyavirus of the family Bunyaviridae. Analyses show that these three viruses are related to the recently sequenced Australian bunyaviruses from mosquitoes, Salt Ash and Murrumbidgee. A notable feature of the Mapputta group viruses is the absence of the NSs (non-structural) ORF commonly found on the S segment of other orthobunyaviruses. Viruses of the Mapputta group have been isolated from geographically diverse regions ranging from tropical Papua New Guinea to the semi-arid climate of south-eastern Australia. The relevance of this group to human health in the region merits further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Land Division, Defence Science & Technology Organisation, Fishermans Bend, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Penelope J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gauci
authors.affiliation: Land Division, Defence Science & Technology Organisation, Fishermans Bend, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.affiliation: Land Division, Defence Science & Technology Organisation, Fishermans Bend, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.affiliation: Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Dieter M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bulach
authors.affiliation: Berrimah Veterinary Laboratories, Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Berrimah, Northern Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.affiliation: Berrimah Veterinary Laboratories, Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Berrimah, Northern Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Lorna F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Melville
authors.affiliation: Land Division, Defence Science & Technology Organisation, Fishermans Bend, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Aneta J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gubala
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016851:Orthobunyavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods; D065288:Serogroup; D013021:South Australia