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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Animal Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #152331
Title: COMPLETE NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE OF A CHILEAN HANTAVIRUS

Author
item MEISSNER, J - UNIV OF NEVADA
item ROWE, J - UNIV OF NEVADA
item Borucki, Monica
item ST. JEOR, S - UNIV OF NEVADA

Submitted to: Virus Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2002
Publication Date: 10/20/2002
Citation: Meissner, J.D., Rowe, J.E., Borucki, M.K., St. Jeor, S.C. Complete nucleotide sequence of a Chilean hantavirus. Virus Research. 2002. v. 89. p. 131-143.

Interpretive Summary: The complete genomic sequence of a South American hantavirus, strain Chile R123 was determined. The genomic structure was similar to other Sigmodontine rodent-associated hantaviruses. Among hantaviruses for which complete genomic sequences are available, Chile R123 is most closely related to Sin Nombre virus, a North American hantavirus. However, this is the first report of the complete genome sequence of a South American hantavirus. When compared to the genetic information of all partially sequenced hanta viruses, Chile R123 is essentially 100% identical in amino acid sequence to the Argentinian and Chilean ANDV strains (South American hantaviruses). These strains have been associated with Syrian hamster pathogenicity and the potential for interhuman transmission. Therefore, it is likely that these features are common to all ANDV strains.

Technical Abstract: We have determined the genomic sequence of an Andes virus (ANDV) strain isolated from an infected Oligoryzomys longicaudatus rodent trapped in Chile in 1997. This strain, for which we propose the designation Chile R123, reproduces essential attributes of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) when injected intramuscularly into laboratory hamsters (Hooper et al., Virology 289 (2001) 6-14). The L, M, and S segment sequences of Chile R123 are 6562, 3671, and 1871 nt long, respectively, with an overall G+C content of 38.5%. These respective genome segments could encode a 247 kd RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), 126 kd glycoprotein precursor (GPC), and 48 kd nucleocapsid (N) protein, in line with other Sigmodontine rodent-associated hantaviruses. Among hantaviruses for which complete genomic sequences are available, Chile R123 is most closely related to Sin Nombre virus (SNV) strain NM R11, with greater than 85% amino acid identity between translated L and S segments and 78% amino acid identity between translated M segments. Because Chile R123 shares essentially 100% amino acid identity in regions of overlap with partially sequenced Argentinian and Chilean ANDV strains, Syrian hamster pathogenicity and the potential for interhuman transmission are features likely common to all ANDV strains.