Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases (Feb 2016)

Assessment of Recombination in the S-segment Genome of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Iran

  • Sadegh Chinikar,
  • Nariman Shah-Hosseini,
  • Saeid Bouzari,
  • MohammadAli Shokrgozar,
  • Ehsan Mostafavi,
  • Tahmineh Jalali,
  • Sahar Khakifirouz,
  • Martin H Groschup,
  • Matthias Niedrig

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1

Abstract

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Background: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) belongs to genus Nairovirus and family Bunyaviridae. The main aim of this study was to investigate the extent of recombination in S-segment genome of CCHFV in Iran. Methods: Samples were isolated from Iranian patients and those available in GenBank, and analyzed by phyloge­netic and bootscan methods. Results: Through comparison of the phylogenetic trees based on full length sequences and partial fragments in the S-segment genome of CCHFV, genetic switch was evident, due to recombination event. Moreover, evidence of multi­ple recombination events was detected in query isolates when bootscan analysis was used by SimPlot software. Conclusion: Switch of different genomic regions between different strains by recombination could contribute to CCHFV diversification and evolution. The occurrence of recombination in CCHFV has a critical impact on epidemi­ological investigations and vaccine design.

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