Phylogenetic relationships among rhabdoviruses inferred using the L polymerase gene

• DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.81128-0
• Publication Date: 2005-09-26T17:52:32Z
• Authors: H. Bourhy; J. A. Cowley; F. Larrous; E. C. Holmes; P. J. Walker
• Keywords: Monophyly

RNA viruses of the family Rhabdoviridae include arthropod-borne agents that infect plants, fish and mammals, also a variety non-vector-borne mammalian viruses. Herein is presented molecular phylogenetic analysis, largest undertaken to date, 56 rhabdoviruses, including 20 which are currently unassigned or assigned as tentative species within Rhabdoviridae. Degenerate primers targeting region block III L polymerase gene were defined used for RT-PCR amplification sequencing. A maximum-likelihood analysis 158-residue amino acid sequence produced an evolutionary tree containing six recognized genera enabled us identify four more monophyletic groups unclassified rhabdoviruses we refer 'Hart Park', 'Almpiwar', 'Le Dantec' 'Tibrogargan' groups. The broad relationships among these indicate history was strongly influenced by mode transmission, host (plant, mammal) vector (orthopteran, homopteran dipteran).