Phylogenetic Analysis of Japanese Encephalitis Virus: Envelope Gene Based Analysis Reveals a Fifth Genotype, Geographic Clustering, and Multiple Introductions of the Virus into the Indian Subcontinent

We report the analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence for the Indian isolate (P20778; Genbank Accession number AF080251) of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). The phylogenetic tree topology obtained using thirteen complete genome sequences of JEV was reproduced with the envelope, NS1, NS3, and NS5 genes and revealed extensive divergence between the two Indian strains included. A more exhaustive analysis of JEV evolution using 107 envelope sequences available for isolates from different geographic locations worldwide revealed five distinct genotypes of JEV, displaying a minimum nucleotide divergence of 7% with high bootstrap support values. The tree also revealed overall clustering of strains based on geographic location, as well as multiple introductions of JEV into the Indian subcontinent. Nonsynonymous nucleotide divergence rates of the envelope gene estimated that the ancestor common to all JEV genotypes arose within the last three hundred years.