Genetic Detection and Characterization of Lujo Virus, a New Hemorrhagic Fever–Associated Arenavirus from Southern Africa

PLoS Pathogens

Michael Egholm¹  Stephen K. Hutchison¹  Marina L. Khristova²  Gustavo Palacios³  Thomas Briese³  Craig Street³  W. Ian Lipkin³  Laura K. McMullan⁴  Stuart T. Nichol⁴  Janusz T. Paweska⁵  Robert Swanepoel⁵  Jacqueline Weyer⁵ 

[1] 454 Life Sciences, Branford, Connecticut, United States of America;Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America;Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America;Special Pathogens Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America;Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa

关键词: Arenaviruses;    Sequence alignment;    Sequence analysis;    Phylogenetic analysis;    DNA sequence analysis;    Sequence databases;    Sequence motif analysis;    Hemorrhagic fevers;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.1000455

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

Lujo virus (LUJV), a new member of the family Arenaviridae and the first hemorrhagic fever–associated arenavirus from the Old World discovered in three decades, was isolated in South Africa during an outbreak of human disease characterized by nosocomial transmission and an unprecedented high case fatality rate of 80% (4/5 cases). Unbiased pyrosequencing of RNA extracts from serum and tissues of outbreak victims enabled identification and detailed phylogenetic characterization within 72 hours of sample receipt. Full genome analyses of LUJV showed it to be unique and branching off the ancestral node of the Old World arenaviruses. The virus G1 glycoprotein sequence was highly diverse and almost equidistant from that of other Old World and New World arenaviruses, consistent with a potential distinctive receptor tropism. LUJV is a novel, genetically distinct, highly pathogenic arenavirus.

【 授权许可】

CC BY