Stability of Yellow Fever Virus under Recombinatory Pressure Compared to Chikungunya Virus
Author Information
Author(s): Charles E. McGee, Konstantin A. Tsetsarkin, Bruno Guy, Jean Lang, Kenneth Plante, Dana L. Vanlandingham, Stephen Higgs
Primary Institution: University of Texas Medical Branch
Hypothesis
Can yellow fever virus (YFV) recombine under conditions of high co-infection with distinct wild-type viruses?
Conclusion
The study concluded that the generation of viable flavivirus recombinants is extremely unlikely, even under conditions of high co-infection.
Supporting Evidence
- Full length recombinant YFV 17D virus was never detected under any experimental conditions.
- YFV 17D superinfection resistance was observed in both vertebrate and arthropod cells.
- Non-homologous recombination was observed for chikungunya virus (CHIKV) within the structural gene coding sequence.
Takeaway
This study looked at whether yellow fever virus can mix its genes with other viruses. It found that even when many viruses are present, it's very unlikely for new, mixed viruses to form.
Methodology
The researchers constructed recombinant yellow fever virus (YFV) 17D crosses and optimized detection conditions to evaluate recombination potential.
Limitations
The study's findings may not apply to all flavivirus species or under all conditions of co-infection.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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