The complete genome sequence analysis of West Nile virus strains isolated in Slovakia (central Europe)

摘要

The present study reports the first complete genome sequence analysis of West Nile virus (WNV) strains isolated from brain samples from raptors. The results prove the circulation of closely related WNV lineage II strains in central Europe and genetic analysis revealed seven amino acid substitutions in structural (PrM3, E-159 and E-231) and in non-structural (NS1(109), NS5(259), NS5(310) and NS5(600)) proteins. Observed amino acid substitutions Phe(3) and Ser(231) were common only within the lineage VII Koutango strain isolated from Rhipicephalus guilhoni tick in Senegal. Further research could reveal whether these substitutions influence the biological properties of WNV, including virulence and neuroinvasiveness.