Molecular Evolution of Viruses of the Family Filoviridae Based on 97 Whole-Genome Sequences

Abstract

Viruses in the Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus genera (family Filoviridae) have been associated with large outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever in human and nonhuman primates. The first documented cases occurred in primates over 45 years ago, but the amount of virus genetic diversity detected within bat populations, which have recently been identified as potential reservoir hosts, suggests that the filoviruses are much older. Here, detailed Bayesian coalescent phylogenetic analyses are performed on 97 whole-genome sequences, 55 of which are newly reported, to comprehensively examine molecular evolutionary rates and estimate dates of common ancestry for viruses within the family Filoviridae. Molecular evolutionary rates for viruses belonging to different species range from 0.46 ؋ 10 ؊4 nucleotide substitutions/site/year for Sudan ebolavirus to 8.21 ؋ 10 ؊4 nucleotide substitutions/site/year for Reston ebolavirus. Most recent common ancestry can be traced back only within the last 50 years for Reston ebolavirus and Zaire ebolavirus species and suggests that viruses within these species may have undergone recent genetic bottlenecks. Viruses within Marburg marburgvirus and Sudan ebolavirus species can be traced back further and share most recent common ancestors approximately 700 and 850 years before the present, respectively. Examination of the whole family suggests that members of the Filoviridae, including the recently described Lloviu virus, shared a most recent common ancestor approximately 10,000 years ago. These data will be valuable for understanding the evolution of filoviruses in the context of natural history as new reservoir hosts are identified and, further, for determining mechanisms of emergence, pathogenicity, and the ongoing threat to public health.

Chiropteran and Filoviruses in Africa: Unveiling an ancient history

“…(ICEBOV). The genus Marburgvirus accounts for a single species, Marburgvirus marburgvirus (formerly Lake Victoria marburgvirus), which consists of two very divergent "viruses": Marburg virus and Ravn virus, approximately 20% divergent at a genetic level (Carroll et al, 2013;Kuhn et al, 2010Kuhn et al, , 2013Towner et al, 2006Towner et al, , 2009. This is in contrast to the known diversity for Ebolavirus species, with Zaire ebolavirus having only a 2.7% nucleotide difference between sequences, Sudan ebolavirus 5.2%, and Reston ebolavirus 4.5% (Lauber and Gorbalenya, 2012;Carroll et al, 2013).…”

Awareness of Ebola: Exotic Zoonotic Disease

“…Sebagian besar penularan ke manusia diakibatkan oleh kontak dengan hewan atau manusia dan bangkai hewan yang terinfeksi (Carroll et al 2013). Virus Ebola adalah salah satu virus yang paling virulen pada manusia dan dapat membunuh hingga 70-80% dari pasien dalam…”

“…Proses kesembuhan merupakan proses yang lama karena virus dapat diisolasi dari pasien sekitar 82 hari setelah timbulnya penyakit (Smith 2011). Penularan melalui jarum suntik telah dilaporkan saat wabah Ebola yang terjadi pada fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan, karena buruknya teknik keperawatan dan penggunaan kembali jarum atau alat medis lainnya yang tidak didesinfeksi (Carroll et al 2013).…”

Overview of Rhabdo- And Filoviruses

“…Since then, these viruses have caused several outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever (HF), mostly in the African nations, where these viruses are presumed to have been originated. 14 The number of HF outbreaks caused by EBOV in recent years is significantly higher than those caused by MARV. The reason(s) for this is unclear but could be related to the conditions that favor EBOV emergence.…”