Zika Virus spreading in South America: Evolutionary analysis of emerging neutralizing resistant Phe279Ser strains.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the genetic diversity of Zika Virus (ZIKV) and the relationships existing among these circulating viruses worldwide. To evaluate the genetic polymorphisms harbored from ZIKV that can have an influence on the virus circulation.


METHODS
Three different ZIKV dataset were built. The first dataset included 63 E gene sequences, the second one 22 NS3 sequences and the third dataset was composed of 108 NS5 gene sequences. Phylogenetic and selective pressure analysis was performed. The edited nucleic acid alignment from the Envelope dataset was used to generate a conceptual translation to the corresponding peptide sequences through UGene software.


RESULTS
The phylogeographic reconstruction was able to discriminate unambiguously that the Brazilian strains are belonged to the Asian lineage. The structural analysis reveals instead the presence of the Ser residue in the Brazilian sequences (however already observed in other previously reported ZIKV infections) that could suggest the presence of a neutralization-resistant population of viruses.


CONCLUSIONS
Phylogenetic, evolutionary and selective pressure analysis contributed to improve the knowledge on the circulation of ZIKV.
Department of Infectious Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Hematology, Genetic and Computational Biology, Gonçalo Moniz Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (LHGB/CPqGM/FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Marta
M
Giovanetti
Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche 'A. Rossi Fanelli', Università La Sapienza, 00185 Roma, Italy.
Teresa
T
Milano
Laboratory of Hematology, Genetic and Computational Biology, Gonçalo Moniz Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (LHGB/CPqGM/FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Luiz Carlos
LC
Alcantara
Department of Infectious Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
Laura
L
Carcangiu
Department of Infectious Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Eleonora
E
Cella
Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
Alessia
A
Lai
Department of Infectious Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
Alessandra
A
Lo Presti
Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche 'A. Rossi Fanelli', Università La Sapienza, 00185 Roma, Italy.
Stefano
S
Pascarella
Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
Gianguglielmo
G
Zehender
Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Silvia
S
Angeletti
Department of Infectious Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: ciccozzi@iss.it.
Massimo
M
Ciccozzi
Evolution; Phylogeny; Zika Virus