Phylogenetic Analysis of <i>Massilia phlebovirus</i> in Portugal
Fátima Amaro,
Líbia Zé-Zé,
José Lourenço,
Marta Giovanetti,
Stefanie Christine Becker,
Maria João Alves
Affiliations
Fátima Amaro
Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida da Liberdade n. 5, 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal
Líbia Zé-Zé
Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida da Liberdade n. 5, 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal
José Lourenço
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
Marta Giovanetti
Laboratório de Flavivírus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Fiocruz, Avenida Brasil, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil
Stefanie Christine Becker
Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany
Maria João Alves
Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida da Liberdade n. 5, 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal
In the last two decades, molecular surveys of arboviruses have enabled the identification of several new viruses, contributing to the knowledge of viral diversity and providing important epidemiological data regarding possible new emerging viruses. A combination of diagnostic assays, Illumina sequencing and phylogenetic inference are here used to characterize two new Massilia phlebovirus strains isolated from sandflies collected in the Arrábida region, Portugal. Whole genome sequence analysis enabled their identification as reassortants and the recognition of genomic variants co-circulating in Portugal. Much is still unknown about the life cycle, geographic range, evolutionary forces and public health importance of these viruses in Portugal and elsewhere, and more studies are needed.
