Antigenic and molecular characterization of viruses isolated from mosquitoes captured in Pará State, Brazil

Abstract

Arboviruses are widely distributed worldwide and, in Brazil, approximately 200 species have been isolated and many are associated with human diseases. Most arboviruses are classified within the Bunyaviridae family, which present three RNA segments and an important genetic reassortment characteristic, thus forming new types of viruses globally. New molecular biology techniques for genome sequencing, associated with classic serological tests, such as complement fixation (CF), neutralization test (NT), and hemagglutination inhibition (HI), enable enhanced viral identification and characterization, particularly of viruses generated by genetic reassortment. Thus, the serological and molecular characteristics of three viral samples (BeAR 544767, BeAR 643361, and BeAR 701402) obtained from mosquitoes in Pará State by the Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers Section of the Instituto Evandro Chagas were determined. Antigen characterization was performed using CF and NT; molecular characterization was conducted using two genomic sequencing platforms: 454 FLX and Ion PGM^TM. The results of CF indicated that all three isolates presented cross-reactivity between the Tucunduba (TUCV) and Taiassui viruses. Viral isolates of BeAR 544767 and BeAR 701402 were classified as TUCV strains by NT, which was confirmed by molecular characterization of the three isolates. Thus, viral isolates of BeAR 544767, BeAR 643361, and BeAR 701402 were classified as TUCV strains and they belong to the Wyeomyia group, Bunyaviridae family, and Orthobunyavirus genus.