The full-length genome analysis of a street rabies virus strain isolated in Yunnan province of China

The epidemic of rabies has rapidly increased and expanded in Yunnan province in recent years. In order to further analyze and understand the etiological reasons for the rapid expansion of rabies in Yunnan, a strain of rabies virus CYN1009D in Yunnan was isolated, and the complete genomic sequencing was carried out, and the bioimfomative analysis on genes/encoded proteins and phylogeny with reference to sequences in GenBank was performed. The complete genome of CYN1009D was 11923 nt in length and belonged to genotype I. The genes encoding different structural proteins were all conserved in their lengths, in comparison to other strains in China. The amino acid sequence was conserved at different antigen sites of NP, but the variation was detected at the secondary phosphorylation site of position 375; variations were also detected in the phosphorylation sites at positions 63–63 and 162 of PP; the sites playing important roles in virus synthesis, budding and viral morphology in MP were conserved; two glycosylation sites were detected at Asn37 and Asn319 in GP, the neutralizing antigen sites in GP were conserved; the initial amino acid of LP (ML) was different from that of most of the strains in China (MM); the variations in G-L region in the intergenic region were significant. The phylogenic tree showed that CYN1009D has a closer genetic relationship to the strains in Southeast Asia, indicating that prevention and control on rabies in borderland areas should be reinforced meanwhile efforts are made to control rabies in China.Key words: Rabies virus, Yunnan CYN1009D, Complete genome, Characterization