Complete nucleotide sequence of a Chilean hantavirus

We have determined the genomic sequence of an Andes virus (ANDV) strain isolated from an infected Oligoryzomys longicaudatus rodent trapped in Chile in 1997. This strain, for which we propose the designation Chile R123, reproduces essential attributes of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) when injected intramuscularly into laboratory hamsters (Hooper et al., Virology 289 (2001) 6–14). The L, M, and S segment sequences of Chile R123 are 6562, 3671, and 1871 nt long, respectively, with an overall G+C content of 38.5%. These respective genome segments could encode a 247 kd RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), 126 kd glycoprotein precursor (GPC), and 48 kd nucleocapsid (N) protein, in line with other Sigmodontine rodent-associated hantaviruses. Among hantaviruses for which complete genomic sequences are available, Chile R123 is most closely related to Sin Nombre virus (SNV) strain NM R11, with greater than 85% amino acid identity between translated L and S segments and 78% amino acid identity between translated M segments. Because Chile R123 shares essentially 100% amino acid identity in regions of overlap with partially sequenced Argentinian and Chilean ANDV strains, Syrian hamster pathogenicity and the potential for interhuman transmission are features likely common to all ANDV strains.