Characterization of arenaviruses using a family-specific primer set for RT-PCR amplification and RFLP analysis

Lozano, Mario Enrique; Posik, Diego Manuel; Albariño, César G.; Schujman, G; Ghiringhelli, Pablo Daniel; Calderón, Gladys; Sabattini, Marta S.; Romanowski, Vı́ctor

doi:10.1016/s0168-1702(97)01458-5

Cited by 56 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Up to 21.3% nucleotide and 7.3% amino acid differences have been reported in the partial NP gene sequence of Pirital virus, a New World arenavirus (26). Others have proposed that the status of Lassa viruses as a single virus species be reevaluated only on the basis of the sequence divergence seen between the Josiah and GA391 strains (44). We believe that the range of variation seen among Lassa virus strains represents the maximum genetic variation that will be seen in a given arenavirus species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As more full-length glycoprotein gene sequences become available, criteria can be developed for GP1 and GP2 sequences. If the 12% amino acid cutoff for NP data (both full gene and partial gene) is used, all recognized arenavirus species would be valid except for the proposed species Pampa virus (44), which would be considered a strain of OLV virus, since there is only a 6.3% amino acid sequence divergence between partial NP protein sequences of the two viruses. Both Pampa and OLV viruses were isolated from rodents of the same genus (Bolomys) in Argentina (44,48).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If the 12% amino acid cutoff for NP data (both full gene and partial gene) is used, all recognized arenavirus species would be valid except for the proposed species Pampa virus (44), which would be considered a strain of OLV virus, since there is only a 6.3% amino acid sequence divergence between partial NP protein sequences of the two viruses. Both Pampa and OLV viruses were isolated from rodents of the same genus (Bolomys) in Argentina (44,48). As more intrastrain sequence data accumulate for arenaviruses, it will be possible to determine if the 12% NP amino acid cutoff remains a valid criterion for genetic species definition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The genetic distance between the Nigerian strains (LP and GA391) was unexpected, since their origins of isolation are only about 500 km apart and separated by only an 8-year interval. Although there are no currently established criteria for differentiating arenavirus species based on genetic data, the apparent diversity of Lassa viruses has prompted speculation that Lassa virus per se may actually be a complex of closely related arenaviruses (44). The purpose of this study was to perform a large-scale examination of the genetic diversity of Lassa viruses across the currently known geographic range of Lassa fever.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Genetic Diversity among Lassa Virus Strains

Bowen

Rollin

Ksiazek

et al. 2000

J Virol

284

276

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The arenavirus Lassa virus causes Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic fever that is endemic in the countries of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea and perhaps elsewhere in West Africa. To determine the degree of genetic diversity among Lassa virus strains, partial nucleoprotein (NP) gene sequences were obtained from 54 strains and analyzed. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Lassa viruses comprise four lineages, three of which are found in Nigeria and the fourth in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Overall strain variation in the partial NP gene sequence was found to be as high as 27% at the nucleotide level and 15% at the amino acid level. Genetic distance among Lassa strains was found to correlate with geographic distance rather than time, and no evidence of a "molecular clock" was found. A method for amplifying and cloning full-length arenavirus S RNAs was developed and used to obtain the complete NP and glycoprotein gene (GP1 and GP2) sequences for two representative Nigerian strains of Lassa virus. Comparison of full-length gene sequences for four Lassa virus strains representing the four lineages showed that the NP gene (up to 23.8% nucleotide difference and 12.0% amino acid difference) is more variable than the glycoprotein genes. Although the evolutionary order of descent within Lassa virus strains was not completely resolved, the phylogenetic analyses of full-length NP, GP1, and GP2 gene sequences suggested that Nigerian strains of Lassa virus were ancestral to strains from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Compared to the New World arenaviruses, Lassa and the other Old World arenaviruses have either undergone a shorter period of diverisification or are evolving at a slower rate. This study represents the first large-scale examination of Lassa virus genetic variation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic Diversity among Lassa Virus Strains

Bowen

Rollin

Ksiazek

et al. 2000

J Virol

284

276

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“…The sequence variation among LASV strains is the highest among arenaviruses and this finding initially raised concern about the status of LASV as a single species [11,12,58]. Based on the partial NP sequences of 54 strains of LASV, was shown (accession number U8004) [11] that LASV isolates comprise four lineages, three of which are found in Nigeria and the fourth in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.…”

Section: Lassa and Lassa-related Viruses: Tax-onomy And Phylogenymentioning

confidence: 99%

Lassa Virus Genome

Igor¹,

Sica²

2006

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Lassa virus (LASV), the most dangerous human pathogen among the Arenaviridae, belongs to a complex of genetically related virus strains responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in West Africa each year. The virus has a bi-segmented (L and S) single-stranded RNA genome. Each segment contains two genes in ambisense orientation. The L RNA encodes a large protein, L, or RdRp and a small zinc-binding, Z protein. The S RNA encodes the major structural proteins, nucleoprotein (NP) and glycoprotein precursor (GPC), cleaved into signal peptide, GP1, and GP2 glycoproteins. Genetic diversity among LASV strains is the highest within the family Arenaviridae and NP and RdRp genes are the most variable among LASV genes. The LASV genetic diversity is a great challenge for vaccine development.In addition to LASV and the prototype lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), the Old World group of arenaviruses includes three other related viruses, Mopeia (MOPV), Mobala (MOBV), and Ippy (IPPYV). These viruses as well as a MOP/LAS reassortant carrying the L RNA segment from MOPV and S RNA segment from LASV are non-pathogenic for experimental animals and are able to induce protective immunity against LASV. Lassa Fever pathogenesis is a sum of the effects induced by viral replication and immune response. The goal of this review is to cover recent publications on viral and host genes that control LASV virulence. The full-length genome sequence of LASV isolates and LASV-related nonpathogenic arenaviruses will provide a useful genetic tool to map LASV genes involved in virulence and to gain insight into phylogeny and evolution of the Old World arenaviruses.

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Pathogenesis of the Old World Arenaviruses in Humans

Lukashevich

2015

Human Emerging and Re‐emerging Infections

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Characterization of arenaviruses using a family-specific primer set for RT-PCR amplification and RFLP analysis

Cited by 56 publications

References 27 publications

Genetic Diversity among Lassa Virus Strains

Genetic Diversity among Lassa Virus Strains

Lassa Virus Genome

Pathogenesis of the Old World Arenaviruses in Humans

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