Objective: Echovirus 11 is one of the most frequently isolated enterovirus serotypes, causing a wide range of clinical diseases. We studied the genetic diversity in the 3' end of the VP1 gene of strains from different geographical origin in the world.
Methods: The sequences in the 3' end of the VP1 of 11 Tunisian isolates were determined and aligned with the published sequences to establish a phylogenetic profile.
Results: The grouping of the sequences was similar to what was previously reported by analyzing the whole VP1 gene with 4 genogroups, designated A-D, and 5 lineages in genogroup D. All Tunisian strains belonged to genogroup D, together with other sequences mainly from the USA and Europe. Contrary to the sequences from the USA isolated during the last 3 decades, which mostly belonged to the D4 lineage, those from Tunisia belonged to different lineages within genogroup D according to their isolation date: isolates from the early 1990s belonged to D3, those of the mid 1990s to D4 and the most recent ones to D5.
Conclusion: Our findings further widen the interest of partial sequencing in the VP1 to study the molecular epidemiology of echovirus 11 and indicate that the genetic evolution of circulating strains may differ from one country to another according to the region's epidemiological specificities.
2007 S. Karger AG, Basel