Short report: Genetic heterogeneity of Japanese encephalitis virus assessed via analysis of the full-length genome sequence of a Korean isolate

We determined the full-length genome sequence of Japanese encephalitis viru s (JEV) K94P05 isolated in Korea. Sequence analysis showed that the 10,963- nucleotide-long RNA genome of K94P05 was 13 or 14 nucleotides shorter than the genome of other JEV isolates because of a deletion in the 3 ' noncoding region of K94P05. Compared with sequences of other JEV isolates, the full- length nucleotide sequence showed 89.0-89.6% homology, and the deduced amin o acid sequence showed between 96.4-97.3% homology. A region of similar to 60 nucleotidcs immediately downstream of the open reading frame stop codon of K94P05 showed high sequence variability as compared with other JEV isola tes. K94P05 formed a distinct group within a phylogenetic tree established with the full-length genome sequences. Cross- neutralization studies showed that polyclonal antibodies to Korean isolates were 3 times better at neutr alizing the Korean isolates than antibodies to Nakayama-NIH. These findings suggest that Korean JEV K94P05 is genetically and antigenically distinct f rom other Asian JEV isolates.