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Title: Characterization of the Full-Length Genomic Sequence of Vesicular Stomatitis Cocal and Alagoas Viruses

Author
item Pauszek, Steven
item ALLENDE, ROSSANA - PAN AMERICAN FMD CENTER,
item Rodriguez, Luis

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2008
Publication Date: 5/30/2008
Citation: Pauszek, S.J., Allende, R., Rodriguez, L.L. 2008. Characterization of the Full-Length Genomic Sequence of Vesicular Stomatitis Cocal and Alagoas Viruses. Archives of Virology. 153:1353-1357.

Interpretive Summary: Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is an important viral disease of livestock throughout the Americas causing foot-and-mouth disease-like disease in cattle and pigs and also affecting horses. Disease outbreaks from northern South America to North America are caused by the New Jersey (VSNJV) and Indiana (VSIV) serotypes. In Brazil and Argentina, VS is caused by viral strains serologically related to VSIV, namely VS Indiana-2 (VSIV-2) or VS Indiana-3 (VSIV-3). While VSNJV and VSIV are well characterized, little is known about viruses from South America. The full-length genomic sequence of the prototype strains of VSIV-2 Cocal virus (COCV) and VSIV-3 Alagoas virus (VSAV) was determined. The overall genetic structure of these viruses was similar to previously characterized VSV strains. Interestingly VSAV lacked a protein present in all other VSV characterized to date. Phylogenetic analyses based on deduced amino acid sequences of each individual protein consistently grouped COCV and VSAV with VSIV in a monophyletic group confirming the serological classification of these viruses. This study provides valuable information for the design of detection tools and the understanding of the epidemiology and disease control of VS in South America.

Technical Abstract: Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is an important viral disease of livestock throughout the Americas caused by members of the vesiculovirus genus of the family Rhabdoviridae. VS outbreaks between northern South America and North America are caused principally by the New Jersey serotype (VSNJV) and to a lesser extent by the classical Indiana serotype (VSIV). In Brazil and Argentina, VS is caused by viral strains serologically related to VSIV, namely VS Indiana-2 (VSIV-2) or VS Indiana-3 (VSIV-3). Here we characterize the full-length genomic sequences of the prototype strains of VSIV-2 Cocal virus (COCV) and VSIV-3 Alagoas virus (VSAV). The genomes of COCV and VSAV showed similar genomic organizations to field isolates of VSIV. Both viruses possessed a 47nt leader (Le) sequence followed by the five structural proteins [nucleocapsid (N), phosphoprotein (P), matrix (M), glycoprotein (G) and the large polymerase protein (L)] and a 57nt (COCV) or 58nt (VSAV) 5’ trailer (Tr) sequence. The non-structural C/C’ proteins, markedly conserved throughout the vesiculoviruses, were absent in VSAV. Phylogenetic analyses based on deduced amino acid sequences of each individual protein consistently grouped COCV, VSAV and VSIV in a monophyletic group, distinct from VSNJV, supporting the classification of these viruses within the Indiana serogroup.