VERGINA-LIKE STRAINS OF TICK-BORNE ENCEPH ALITIS-VIRUS IN RUSSIA

The Greek strain Vergina representing an individual third serotype of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus has been compared with 13 TBE stra ins isolated on tile territory of Russia and Central Asia (in Kirghizi a). A kit of deoxyoligonucleotide probes complementary to genome sites of Neudorfle strain of the TEE Central European subtype (protein C an d prM genes) and of strain Sofying of the Eastern subtype (protein E, C, M, prM, ns 1, ns 2b, ns 4b genes) was used in molecular hybridizati on of nucleic acids. Vergina strain was referred to the genetic varian t VI prevalent in the western part of the East European plain, in Udmu rtia, in the Altai mountains, and in West Siberia. By its antigenic pr operties Vergina strain is most close to strain Yar-90 isolated iu the Yaroslavl district from Ixodes persulcatus ticks.