Molecular evolution of emerging Banna virus

• Published in: Infection, genetics and evolution Vol. 45; pp. 250 - 255
• Main Authors: Liu, Hong, Gao, Xiao-Yan, Fu, Shi-Hong, Li, Ming-Hua, Zhai, You-Gang, Meng, Wei-Shan, Sun, Xiao-Hong, Lv, Zhi, Wang, Huan-Yu, Shen, Xin-Xin, Cao, Yu-Xi, He, Ying, Liang, Guo-Dong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-11-2016
• Subjects: Animals; Banna virus; Coltivirus - classification; Coltivirus - genetics; Communicable Diseases, Emerging - virology; Encephalitis, Arbovirus - virology; Evolution; Evolution, Molecular; Humans; Origin; Phylogeny; RNA, Viral - analysis; RNA, Viral - genetics; Origin; Banna virus; Evolution
• ISSN: 1567-1348; 1567-7257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.08.034

Banna virus (BAV) is an emerging pathogen that causes human viral encephalitis and has been isolated from types of blood-sucking insects and mammals in Asia. However, there are no reported systematic studies that describe the origin and evolution of BAV. Here, a phylogenetic analysis of BAVs isolated from a variety of potential vectors and vertebrate hosts worldwide revealed that BAVs emerged in the beginning of the 20th century and do not exhibit a species barrier. The mean substitution rate of BAVs was 2.467×10−2substitution/site/year (95% HPD, 1.093×10−3 to 5.628×10−2). The lineage is mainly composed of BAVs from high-latitude regions, which are the most recently emerged viruses with significantly higher substitution rates compared with the lineage comprised of the isolates from middle or low-latitude regions. The genetic differences between BAV strains are positively correlated with the geographic distribution. Strains from the same latitude regions are almost 100% identical, whereas the differences between strains from long distance regions with different latitudes could be >60%. Our results demonstrate that BAV is an emerging virus at a stage that involves rapid evolution and has great potential for introduction into non-endemic areas. Thus, enhanced surveillance of BAV is highly recommended worldwide.
•The potential origin and evolution of BAV were analyzed.•BAV is an emerging virus that is at a stage of rapid evolution.•BAV does not exhibit a species barrier.•Factors such as global warming and increased transportation may greatly facilitate the spread of BAV.•In-depth research and enhanced surveillance of BAV are highly recommended.