Genetic and evolutionary characterization of RABVs from China using the phosphoprotein gene

Abstract

BackgroundWhile the function of the phosphoprotein (P) gene of the rabies virus (RABV) has been well studied in laboratory adapted RABVs, the genetic diversity and evolution characteristics of the P gene of street RABVs remain unclear. The objective of the present study was to investigate the mutation and evolution of P genes in Chinese street RABVs.ResultsThe P gene of 77 RABVs from brain samples of dogs and wild animals collected in eight Chinese provinces through 2003 to 2008 were sequenced. The open reading frame (ORF) of the P genes was 894 nucleotides (nt) in length, with 85-99% (80-89%) amino acid (nucleotide) identity compared with the laboratory RABVs and vaccine strains. Phylogenetic analysis based on the P gene revealed that Chinese RABVs strains could be divided into two distinct clades, and several RABV variants were found to co circulating in the same province. Two conserved (CD1, 2) and two variable (VD1, 2) domains were identified by comparing the deduced primary sequences of the encoded P proteins. Two sequence motifs, one believed to confer binding to the cytoplasmic dynein light chain LC8 and a lysine-rich sequence were conserved throughout the Chinese RABVs. In contrast, the isolates exhibited lower conservation of one phosphate acceptor and one internal translation initiation site identified in the P protein of the rabies challenge virus standard (CVS) strain. Bayesian coalescent analysis showed that the P gene in Chinese RABVs have a substitution rate (3.305x10-4 substitutions per site per year) and evolution history (592 years ago) similar to values for the glycoprotein (G) and nucleoprotein (N) reported previously.ConclusionSeveral substitutions were found in the P gene of Chinese RABVs strains compared to the laboratory adapted and vaccine strains, whether these variations could affect the biological characteristics of Chinese RABVs need to be further investigated. The substitution rate and evolution history of P gene is similar to G and N gene, combine the topology of phylogenetic tree based on the P gene is similar to the G and N gene trees, indicate that the P, G and N genes are equally valid for examining the phylogenetics of RABVs.

Molecular Phylodynamic Analysis Indicates Lineage Displacement Occurred in Chinese Rabies Epidemics between 1949 to 2010

“…1984. http://law.lawtime.cn/d564741569835.html) were the primary methods for containing the virus [34]. As discussed above, recordkeeping was not as precise in the earlier epidemics, but the general features of the graph in figure 1 nevertheless highlight the limitations of culling as an effective control measure.…”

Ledantevirus: A Proposed New Genus in the Rhabdoviridae has a Strong Ecological Association with Bats

“…Diversity analysis of the P proteins of 77 isolates of rabies virus from China identified a minimum aa identity of 85%, whereas intra-species (intragenotype) P protein variation among 128 lyssavirus isolates identified aa identities of 73.5% and inter-species identities of 65.9%. 31,32 Full genome analysis of nine virus isolates of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus from throughout the known geographic range of the virus identified minimum aa identities of 91.5% for all proteins except P for which the minimum identity was 82.8%. 33 Analysis of the ephemeroviruses bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) and Kimberley virus showed minimum intra-species aa sequence identities of 79.1% for the partial P protein and 94.9% for the partial G protein, whereas maximum inter-species identities between BEFV and the closely related Berrimah virus were 44.9% and 90.8% for the partial P and G proteins, respectively.…”

Rabies and rabies virus in wildlife in mainland China, 1990–2013

“…As reported previously, clade I is a relatively recent lineage that is gaining dominance and is now responsible for most of the new rabies cases in mainland China. 50,51,[54][55][56][57] The samples in clade I were isolated almost exclusively from dogs, with almost all of the remaining samples collected from humans and domesticated animals. Only two samples were isolated from wildlife (Chinese ferret badgeroriginated JX09-17 and wolf-originated hubei070308).…”