Molecular characterization of Canna yellow streak virus with divergent coat protein N-terminal fragment in Iraq.

BACKGROUND: Canna yellow streak virus (CaYSV, family Potyviridae) infects many canna cultivars, which have been widely cultivated in the Iraqi gardens for ornamental purposes. The genetic variability within multiple genomic regions of CaYSV population has been demonstrated in the 3' part, particularly in the coat protein (CP). This work was aimed to characterize CaYSV and investigate its variability from canna plants in Iraq. METHOD AND RESULTS: Leaves of canna plants grown in several gardens in Baghdad were tested by potyvirus group antibodies and RT-PCR. Analysis of the nucleotide (nt) sequences corresponding to the 3' part of the virus genome revealed the highest identity (81.6-90.6%) with known CaYSV isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of the coat protein (CP) gene sequence placed the Iraqi isolates in a separate clade with members of group A. This distinction was evidenced by unique amino acid changes found within the N-terminal motif of the CP. This is the first report of phylogenetically distinct CaYSV in Iraq. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of phylogenetically distinct CaYSV with divergent CP N-terminus in Iraq.

Full-Length Genome Sequencing and Analysis of Hepatitis B Viruses Isolated from Iraqi Patients.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes liver diseases (chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma) and is a leading health problem worldwide. Sequencing of the whole HBV genome provides insight into the virus genotype, subgenotype, serotype, genetic variation, and viral drug resistance. To date, no study has been conducted on the whole genome sequence of HBV obtained from Iraqi patients. Therefore, this is the first study to sequence clinical samples from these patients. Viral genomic DNA was isolated and amplified using five primer sets to amplify five overlapping regions covering the entire HBV genome. The amplicons were sequenced, aligned to a reference sequence, annotated, and submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank database. Sequence analysis showed that the genome size of the tested viral samples was 3,182 bp and belonged to genotype D, subgenotype D1, and serotype ayw2. Missense mutations were found in the four regions (X, PreS1-S, PreC-C, and P) of the tested samples, leading to amino acid substitutions, which were 8.4%, 5.1%, 4.7%, and 4.6%, respectively. These mutations may cause severe liver diseases.