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Influenza B virus evolution: co-circulating lineages and comparison of evolutionary pattern with those of influenza A and C viruses.

Sequence analyses and comparison of the genes coding for the nonstructural (NS) and hemagglutinin (HA) proteins of different influenza B viruses isolated between 1940 and 1987 reveal that the number of substitutions is not always proportional to the time between isolates. Examination of 14 influenza B virus NS gene and 10 HA gene sequences by the maximum parsimony method suggested that--as with influenza C viruses--there are multiple evolutionary lineages which can coexist for considerable periods of time. Comparison of the sequence divergence among genes of viruses belonging to type A, B, and C virus suggests that, in man, influenza B viruses evolve slower than A viruses and faster than C viruses. We propose an evolutionary model for influenza B viruses that is intermediate between the pattern for human influenza A viruses and that for influenza C viruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Close evolutionary relatedness of the hepatitis B virus and murine leukemia virus polymerase gene sequences.

Previous work indicates that hepatitis B virus (HBV) and retroviruses utilize a unique mechanism for genome replication by reverse transcription of RNA and share homology in biologically important nucleotide and protein sequences. The data presented here extend previous findings of sequence homology among the genomes of the members of these virus families. HBV was found to possess sequences homologous to the retrovirus protease and reverse transcriptase gene sequences. Homology was not found to the retrovirus integrase sequence consistent with the observation that hepadnaviruses do not integrate into cellular DNA as a necessary step in their replication cycle. Overall, the homology of the hepadnavirus polymerase gene was strongest with that of the murine leukemia viruses (MLVs). Also, the hepadnavirus polymerase shares organizational similarities to the MLV polymerase sequence. Analysis suggests that the ancestor of both hepadnaviruses and retroviruses possessed an overlapping long open reading frame in the polymerase gene sequence. In addition, low stringency blot hybridization using hepadnavirus DNA probes indicates that HBV is more closely related to MLV sequences than the sequences of MLV-related viruses and endogenous retrovirus-like genetic elements. Taken together, the data indicate that the polymerase gene sequence of the hepadnavirus and MLV genomes are organized in a similar fashion which suggests that these viruses evolved from a common ancestor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rotavirus VP7 neutralization epitopes of serotype 3 strains.

Sequence analysis of the gene encoding the major neutralization glycoprotein (VP7) was performed on 27 human and animal rotavirus strains of serotype 3 in order to examine genetic variation within strains of identical serotype. Comparisons of the deduced amino acid sequences of the VP7s showed overall sequence identities of 85% or higher. A higher degree of overall VP7 sequence similarity was observed among strains from the same animal species when compared to strains from different animal species, suggesting that there are species-specific sequences in the VP7 protein. Alignment of the amino acid sequences demonstrated that amino acid sequence divergence among serotype 3 strains from different species was located primarily in previously established VP7 serotype-specific regions where genetic variation was identified among strains of different serotype. These regions were highly conserved among serotype 3 strains derived from the same species. The varying reactivities of three anti-VP7 monoclonal antibodies with the 27 strains was consistent with the occurrence of antigenic variation among serotype 3 strains. Moreover the reactivity of monoclonal antibodies correlated with the amino acid sequence found in two serotype-specific regions (VR5 and VR8). A computer-derived predicted phylogenetic tree suggests that rotavirus strains from different animal species belonging to serotype 3 are more closely related to each other than to rotavirus strains of different serotypes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evolutionary implications of primate endogenous retroviruses.

Endogenous DNA sequences related to retroviruses are probably present in all primates. By using approaches based on the polymerase chain reaction, two separate studies have revealed the evolutionary history of some of these sequences. In the first study, a retrovirus-like reverse transcriptase (RT) sequence homologous to that of Baboon endogenous virus (BaEV) has been identified in both Old World monkeys and African apes, but not in humans or Asian apes. This RT sequence is highly conserved at the amino acid level, but not the nucleotide level, in the baboon, African green monkey, Java macaque, chimpanzee, and gorilla. The patterns of nucleotide substitution indicate functional conservation and suggest that this RT sequence was present in the primate germline before apes and Old World monkeys diverged about 30 million years ago. In the second study, a comparison of endogenous proviral DNAs and their adjacent sequences has been used to analyze the evolutionary history of three previously reported human endogenous retroviruses, HERV-E(4.14), HERV-R(3), and HERV-Ia. It is shown that these retroviruses have also been resident in the primate line since before the ape-Old World monkey divergence. The implications of the presence of functionally conserved RT genes in the germlines of primates, and the potential for using integration sites as tools for analyzing phylogenetic relationships among primates and their retroviruses, are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Phylogenetic analysis of alphaviruses in the Venezuelan equine encephalitis complex and identification of the source of epizootic viruses.

We studied the evolution of alphaviruses in the Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) complex using phylogenetic analysis of RNA nucleotide sequences from limited portions of the nsP4, E1, and 3' untranslated genome regions of representative strains. The VEE complex constituted a monophyletic group of viruses (descended from a common ancestor); some serologic VEE varieties such as subtype III formed monophyletic groups while subtype I did not. Subtype II Everglades and variety ID enzootic viruses formed a monophyletic group which also included all epizootic variety IAB and IC VEE isolates. Everglades virus diverged from this ID lineage (colonized North America) ca. 100-150 years ago, followed by divergence of variety IAB and IC epizootic viruses. Variety IAB viruses probably emerged from the variety ID lineage once during the early part of this century, while variety IC viruses evolved at least two times. These results identify the source of epizootic VEE viruses as the variety ID enzootic virus lineage which occurs in northern South America and Panama. Even if variety IAB and IC viruses are extinct, recent, multiple emergences of epizootic viruses from an enzootic lineage suggests that other epizootic VEE viruses may evolve again in the future. The close genetic relationship of subtype II Everglades virus to the variety ID lineage also implies the potential for emergence of equine-virulent VEE viruses in Florida.

Base Sequence↗

Three-dimensional similarity mapping reveals nucleotide sequence relationships among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) isolates.

A method has been developed to compare and graphically display comparisons between many related nucleotide sequences. Principal coordinate analysis, a multidimensional scaling technique, was used to display DNA homology data in three dimensions. Using these methods, an analysis of the env, gag, and gag/pol overlapping regions of human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS virus) clearly demonstrates a clustering of North American isolates relative to African isolates. Elements of the latter group are dissimilar to one another and to the North America group. For the env region, the North American isolates can be resolved into two distinct groups.

Base Sequence↗

Nucleotide sequence of the right early region of Bacillus phage phi 15 and comparison with related phages: reorganization of gene 17 during evolution.

The rightmost 2016 bp of the Bacillus subtilis phage phi 15 genome were sequenced. The nucleotide sequence was compared with the homologous regions of the related phages PZA and phi 29. There are six open reading frames (ORFs) in this region of the phi 15 genome; all of them are present in the PZA and phi 29 genomes. One of the ORFs was assigned to gene 17, which is involved in the replication of the phage DNA. Gene 17 has undergone reorganization during the evolution of this phage family. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of its mRNA-like strand in phi 15, PZA and phi 29 showed that deletions in its central and 3'-end-proximal parts are tolerated and do not interfere with the gene 17 product function. It seems that the only portion of gene 17 that has to be conserved to encode the functional product is its 5'-end-proximal part.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Receptors for gamma-interferon encoded by poxviruses: implications for the unknown origin of vaccinia virus.

Poxviruses encode soluble interferon-gamma receptors (IFN-gamma Rs) that inhibit IFN-gamma activity and play a major role in virus pathogenesis. In contrast to the highly species specific cellular homologues, the vaccinia IFN-gamma R has novel broad species specificity. This has implications for the unknown origin and natural host(s) of vaccinia virus, the vaccine used for smallpox eradication.

Antigens, CD↗

Dynamics of enfuvirtide resistance in HIV-infected patients during and after long-term enfuvirtide salvage therapy.

Enfuvirtide (ENF) is the first of a novel class of drugs that blocks HIV fusion to host cells. We analyzed the dynamics of genotypic and phenotypic resistance to ENF during and after long-term ENF therapy and its clinical implications in eight heavily treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients who underwent salvage therapy with enfuvirtide along with other antiretroviral agents. All patients showed a rapid decline in plasma HIV-RNA followed by viral rebound. Changes at codons 36, 42, 43 and/or 44 within the HR1 region of gp41 were selected in all cases, resulting in high-level phenotypic resistance to ENF, ranging from 15- to 445-fold. Both genotypic and phenotypic resistance to ENF rapidly disappeared after discontinuation of the drug, suggesting that ENF-resistant viruses may have an impaired replicative capacity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Reassortment between human A(H3N2) viruses is an important evolutionary mechanism.

Phylogenetic relationships of whole genomes of H3N2 viruses circulating in Germany during a 6-year period from 1998 to 2005 revealed the co-circulation of different lineages of viruses. Multiple reassortment events occurred during this time between viruses belonging to different lineages or different subgroups. Strains isolated during 1998-1999 were characterised by a surprisingly high heterogeneity and multiple reassortment events. Seventy percent of the examined 1998-1999 viruses had completely different genome compositions. To our knowledge, such an exceptional high proportion of different reassortant strains, encompassing all eight genome segments, have not been described before. In contrast, only one reassortant virus was prevalent during 1999-2000 even though two of the three 1998-1999 lineages were co-circulating. Reassortant viruses were isolated also in each of the other seasons. However, the proportion of H3N2 viruses with different genome compositions varied from season to season. Strains with a reassortant NA played an important role and were also detected during 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 accounting for 45% and 70% of the circulating H3N2 viruses, respectively. Moreover, different reassortment events occurring during these seasons included also the PB1, PB2 and NP genes. The results presented here emphasize that genetic reassortment is an important factor in the evolution of H3N2 viruses and highlight the need for a comprehensive analysis of influenza viruses, especially with regard to the annual vaccine composition.

Biological Evolution↗

Genetic analysis of human H2N2 and early H3N2 influenza viruses, 1957-1972: evidence for genetic divergence and multiple reassortment events.

Phylogenic analysis of all gene segments of human H2N2 viruses isolated from 1957 to 1968 was undertaken to better understand the evolution of this virus subtype. Human H3N2 viruses isolated from 1968 to 1972 were also examined to investigate genetic events associated with their emergence in humans and to identify the putative H2N2 ancestral virus. All gene segments of human H2N2 viruses demonstrated divergent evolution into two distinct clades (I and II) among late H2N2 isolates. All gene segments of 1968 H3N2 viruses that were retained from human H2N2 viruses were most similar to clade I H2N2 genes. However, genes of both clades were found among H3N2 isolates of 1969-1971. Unique phylogenic topologies reflected multiple reassortment events among late H2N2 or H3N2 viruses that resulted in a variety of different genome constellations. These results suggest that H2N2 viruses continued to circulate after 1968 and that establishment of H3N2 viruses in humans was associated with multiple reassortment events that contributed to their genetic diversity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Polydnavirus genome: integrated vs. free virus.

Polydnaviruses are unique because of their obligatory association with thousands of parasitoid wasp species from the braconid and ichneumonid families of hymenopterans. PDVs are injected into the parasitized hosts and are essential for parasitism success. However, polydnaviruses are also unique because of their genome composed of multiple dsDNA segments. Cytological evidence has recently confirmed the results of genetic and molecular analyses indicating that PDV segments were integrated in the wasp genome. Moreover a phylogenetic study performed using the age of available fossils to calibrate the molecular clock indicated that the polydnaviruses harboured by braconid wasps have resided within the wasp genome for approximately 70 million years. In the absence of horizontal transmission, the evolution of the PDV genomes has been driven exclusively by the reproductive success they have offered the wasps. The consequences of this particular selection pressure can be observed in the gene content of certain PDV genomes from which increasing sequence data are available. Molecular mechanisms already identified could be involved in the acquisition and loss of genes by the PDV genomes and lead us to speculate on the definition of the virus genome.

Biological Evolution↗

Influenza viruses, comets and the science of evolutionary trees.

The study of phylogeny is becoming increasing scientific in that hypotheses can be tested quantitatively. We report a method of estimating the probabilities of obtaining a tree of a given length from nucleic acid sequence data. The method is applied to the hypothesis of Hoyle & Wickramasinghe that the earth is being continually bombarded by influenza (and other) viruses which originate from comets. A quantitative analysis of sequences from the H1 strain of human influenza viruses contradicts three versions of the Hoyle-Wickramasinghe model. One non-evolutionary version of their model has less than one chance in 10(66) of being correct. A version that allowed extraterrestrial evolution has less than one change in 10(6) of being correct. The sequence data is in agreement with the biological (evolutionary) model. The results are discussed from the aspect of the falsifiability of evolutionary theory.

Base Sequence↗

Myoviridae bacteriophages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a long and complex evolutionary pathway.

Recently we have accomplished the entire DNA sequence of bacteriophage phiKZ, a giant virus infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The 280334-bp of phiKZ genome is a linear, circularly permutated and terminally redundant, AT-rich dsDNA molecule that contains no sites for NotI, PstI, SacI, SmaI, XhoI and XmaIII endonucleases. Limited homology to other bacteriophages on the DNA and protein levels indicated that phiKZ represents a distinct branch of the Myoviridae family. In this work, we analyzed a group of six P. aeruginosa phages (Lin68, Lin21, PTB80, NN, EL, and RU), which are morphologically similar to phiKZ, have similar genome size and low G+C content. All phages have a broad host range among P. aeruginosa strains, and they are resistant to the inhibitory action of many P. aeruginosa plasmids. The analysis of the genomic DNA by restriction enzymes and DNA-DNA hybridization shows that phages are representative of three phiKZ-like species: phiKZ-type (phiKZ, Lin21, NN and PTB80), EL-type (EL and RU) and Lin68 which has a shorter tail than other phages. Except for related phages EL and RU, all phiKZ-like phages have identical N-terminal amino acid sequences of the major capsid protein. Random genome sequencing shows that the EL and RU phages have no homology to the phiKZ-like phages on DNA level. We propose that the phiKZ, Lin21, NN, PTB80 and Lin68 phages can be included in a new phiKZ genus, and that the EL and RU phages belong to a separate genus within the Myoviridae family. Based on the resistance to many restriction enzymes and the transduction ability, there are indications that over the long pathway of evolution, the phiKZ-like phages probably inherited the capacity to infect different bacterial species.

Biological Evolution↗

Endogenous retroviruses and the evolution of resistance to retroviral infection.

The current AIDS epidemic has rekindled interest in the evolution of retroviruses and the development of resistance to infection. Retroviruses and their vertebrate hosts have coexisted for millions of years, during which time a variety of host defence mechanisms has evolved. One repeated strategy is to use endogenous retroviruses to combat infection by their exogenous relatives.

Animals↗