Phylogenetic analysis of North American West Nile virus isolates, 2001-2004: Evidence for the emergence of a dominant genotype

C. Todd Davis, Gregory D. Ebel, Robert S. Lanciotti, Aaron C. Brault, Hilda Guzman, Marina Siirin, Amy Lambert, Ray E. Parsons, David W.C. Beasley, Robert J. Novak, Darwin Elizondo-Quiroga, Emily N. Green, David S. Young, Lillian M. Stark, Michael A. Drebot, Harvey Artsob, Robert B. Tesh, Laura D. Kramer, Alan D.T. Barrett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

223 Scopus citations

Abstract

The distribution of West Nile virus has expanded in the past 6 years to include the 48 contiguous United States and seven Canadian provinces, as well as Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and Colombia. The suggestion of the emergence of a dominant genetic variant has led to an intensive analysis of isolates made across North America. We have sequenced the premembrane and envelope genes of 74 isolates and the complete genomes of 25 isolates in order to determine if a dominant genotype has arisen and to better understand how the virus has evolved as its distribution has expanded. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the continued presence of genetic variants that group in a temporally and geographically dependent manner and provide evidence that a dominant variant has emerged across much of North America. The implications of these findings are discussed as they relate to transmission and spread of the virus in the Western Hemisphere.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)252-265
Number of pages14
JournalVirology
Volume342
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 25 2005

Keywords

  • Flavivirus
  • Molecular epidemiology
  • Phylogenetics
  • Viral evolution
  • West Nile virus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology

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