Molecular characterization of KGH, the first human isolate of rabies virus in Korea

Abstract

The complete genome sequence of the KGH strain of the first human rabies virus, which was isolated from a skin biopsy of a patient with rabies, whose symptoms developed due to bites from a raccoon dog in 2001. The size of the KGH strain genome was determined to be 11,928 nucleotides (nt) with a leader sequence of 58 nt, nucleoprotein gene of 1,353 nt, phosphoprotein gene of 894 nt, matrix protein gene of 609 nt, glycoprotein gene of 1,575 nt, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene of 6,384 nt, and trailer region of 69 nt. Sequence similarity was compared with 39 fully sequenced rabies virus genomes currently available, and the result showed 70.6-91.6 % at the nucleotide level, and 82.8-97.9 % at the amino acid level. The deduced amino acids in the viral protein were compared with those of other rabies viruses, and various functional regions were investigated. As a result, we found that the KGH strain only had a unique amino acid substitution that was identified to be associated either with host immune response and pathogenicity in the N protein, or with a related region regulating STAT1 in the P protein, and related to pathogenicity in G protein. Based on phylogenetic analyses using the complete genome of 39 rabies viruses, the KGH strain was determined to be closely related with the NNV-RAB-H strain and transplant rabies virus serotype 1, which are Indian isolates, and was confirmed to belong to the Arctic-like 2 clade. The KGH strain was most closely related to the SKRRD0204HC and SKRRD0205HC strain when compared with Korean animal isolates, which was separated around the same time and place, and belonged to the Gangwon III subgroup.

Application of recombinant adenoviruses expressing glycoprotein or nucleoprotein of rabies virus to Korean raccoon dogs

“…Until recently, wild animals, such as raccoon dogs ( Nyctereutes procynoide koresis ) and badgers ( Meles meles ), have been the rabies reservoir in South Korea and especially raccoon dogs have played a key role in transmitting rabies since 1993. Thus, raccoon dogs have become the main target animal for controlling rabies [ 1 2 3 ]. As the disease spread into southern regions of Gyeonggi province in 2013, the Korean Veterinary Authority strengthened preventative measures against raccoon dogs [ 4 ].…”

A Global Perspective on Oral Vaccination of Wildlife Against Rabies

“…Overall, poor laboratory-based surveillance in the mountainous areas of the DMZ limited case detection among wildlife, after the control of canine rabies by 1985. Recognizing these limitations, public health, wildlife health and veterinary programs were augmented in a One Health context (Yang et al 2011b;Park et al 2013;Oem et al 2013;Cheong et al 2014). Following dog rabies control, improved laboratory-based surveillance and viral characterization of cases showed raccoon dogs as important in RABV transmission (Oem et al 2014).…”

Development and evaluation of an anti-rabies virus phosphoprotein-specific monoclonal antibody for detection of rabies neutralizing antibodies using RFFIT

“…In comparison to the other 40 RABV strains whose complete genomes have been sequenced, there is one unique amino acid replacement in the KGH strain in a region of the phosphoprotein (P protein), which is related to STAT1 control. Phylogenetic analysis showed that KGH is most closely related to the NNV-RAB-H strain isolated in India and the transplant RABV serotype 1 strain [ 4 ].…”