Khabarovsk virus: a phylogenetically and serologically distinct Hantavirus isolated from Microtus fortis trapped in far-east Russia

Abstract

Two hantavirus strains, MF43 and MF113, isolated from Microtus fortis trapped in the Khabarovsk region of far-eastern Russia, were analysed by direct nucleotide sequencing of PCR generated fragments of the M and S segments, by immunofluorescence and by focus reduction neutralization tests (FRNT). The nucleotide sequences revealed that the two isolates were closely related to each other but distinct from all other hantaviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of the M and S segments showed that the MF strains form a separate branch in the Hantavirus tree, positioned between the branches of Prospect Hill and Puumala viruses. The strains were shown to be serologically distinct from the other hantavirus serotypes by FRNT using immune rabbit sera. Puumala virus was the closest relative, both genetically and serologically. We propose that this new hantavirus serotype should be named Khabarovsk (KBR).

Genetic similarity of Puumala viruses found in Finland and western Siberia and of the mitochondrial DNA of their rodent hosts suggests a common evolutionary origin

“…Therefore, all these data confirm an existence of hybridization zones in eastern European Russia and western Siberia. Hybridization zones are found across Europe for different species of animals, including bank voles (Jaarola et al, 1999;Fredga and Narain, 2000;Hewitt, 1996), as well as hantaviruses (Hörling et al, 1996).…”

Isolation and characterization of Tula virus, a distinct serotype in the genus Hantavirus, family Bunyaviridae

“…Serologically and genetically, HTN, SEO and DOB carried by Murinae rodents are relatively closely related to each other, while PUU, KBR, TUL and PH carried by Arvicdinae rodents, and SN and other viruses carried by Sigmodontinae rodents form two more closely related groups (Chu et at., I994;H6rling et al, 1996;Plyusnin et al, 1996b). The antibody response to N is strong and highly cross-reactive between the different serotypes.…”

“…Several hantaviruses have been isolated in cell culture and, at present, ten have been established as distinct serotypes: HTN, PUU, SEO, DOB, PH, SN, Khabarovsk (KBR), Black Creek Canal, Thailand and Thottapalayam (Chu et al, 1994Avsic-Zupanc et a]., 1995;Schmaljohn et al, 1995;H6rling et al, 1996). In addition, some hantaviruses, such as Bayou, Isla Vista (ILV), E1 Moro Canyon, Rio Segundo, New York, Rio Mamore and previously TUL, lacking cell culture isolates have been characterized mainly genetically by RT-PCR on rodent or patient samples (for reviews see Lundkvist & Niklasson, i994;Plyusnin et al, 1996b;Schmaljohn, 1996).…”

Distribution and genetic heterogeneity of Puumala virus in Sweden

“…The rodent sera were examined for the presence of antibodies reactive with either PUU, KBR or HTN viruses. Antigens for the serological assays were prepared by infecting Vero E6 cells (CRL 1586; ATCC) with PUU virus (P360) , KBR virus (MF43) H6rling et al, 1996) virus (76-118) (Lee et al, 1978). After incubation for 14 days, the ceils were harvested by centrifugation at 2000 g for 10 min and disrupted in RIPA buffer (0"01 M-Tris-HC1 pH 7"8, 2% Triton X-I00, 0'15 M-NaCI, 0"6 M-KC1, 5 mM-EDTA, 1% aprotinin and I mM-PMSF).…”

“…The hantaviruses can be divided into at least nine serotypes : HTN, SEO, PUU, SN, Dobrava (DOB), Prospect Hill (PH), Thailand (THAI), Thottapalyam (THOT) and Khabarovsk (KBR) (Chu et al, 1994;H6rling et al, 1996;Nichol et al, 1993b;Xiao et al, 1993). In addition, several viruses, potentially representing new serotypes, have recently been reported, including E1 Moro Canyon (ELMC) (Hjelle et al, 1994), Tula (TUL) (Plyusnin et al, 1994a), Black Creek Canal Author for correspondence: Jan H6rlin 9, Fax +46 8 7303248. e-mail Jan.Horling@smi.ki.se (NE) (Brummer-Korvenkontio et al, 1980), a milder form of HFRS, occurring in Scandinavia, Finland, western Russia and central Europe .…”