Full-genome sequencing and analysis of DENV-3 serotype isolated from Yemen.

BACKGROUND: Dengue virus causes the dengue fever as well as hemorrhagic fever in tropical and sub-tropical countries. It is now endemic in most parts of the South East Asia. Full-genome information of dengue virus 3 is not available from Yemen. METHODS: In this study, the dengue virus 3 was detected by diagnostic tools like serology and RT-PCR in the samples isolated from a patient in Yemen. The full-genome was sequenced, and the identity, phylogenetic relationship and recombination analysis was performed by using BioEdit, MEGA X and RDP4 softwares. RESULTS: The full-genome of the Yemen isolate was found to be 10,643 nt long with 3390 amino acids. The Yemen dengue virus 3 isolate showed the sequence similarity (98.5-92.4%) with dengue virus 3 isolates from China, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh respectively. The significant non-synonymous substitutions of amino acid in Yemen isolate were observed with selected isolates. The phylogenetic tree of Yemen isolate formed a unique clade within genotype III and sub-clade into lineage III. The Dengue virus isolate from Jeddah formed separated cluster with lineage IV. CONCLUSIONS: This reveals the unique genetic variability among DENV-3 serotypes from Jeddah and earlier reported isolates from other regions.

Genetic diversity of the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus in Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus emerged and spread globally in the spring of 2009. Saudi Arabia also witnessed a severe H1N1 pandemic virus epidemic with considerable morbidity and mortality in different parts of the kingdom beginning in June 2009. The influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was detected in samples collected between May 2009 and November 2010 from Makkah region. This study provides data on the viral diagnosis and genetic diversity of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus from Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: Nasopharyngeal swabs from 100 clinically infected patients in the peak of the outbreak were collected from Makkah region and processed for viral diagnosis by viral culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HA and NA genes of 10 selected samples were sequenced and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 100 samples were collected; only 10 samples were found to be positive for influenza A virus infection by real-time PCR. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the HA and NA genes of influenza A (H1N1) from Saudi Arabia showed significant similarities with selected isolates. The phylogenetic tree constructed for both HA and NA genes formed close clusters with selected reference isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Nucleotide sequence analysis and phylogenetic relationships of the HA and NA genes of influenza A (H1N1) virus from Saudi Arabia with selected reference isolates indicates that they were genetically close and most probably originated from influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.