The WNV Genome Has Mutated

  • By 2002 a new strain of West Nile virus had emerged. Compared to the strain that was introduced in 1999, this new strain had a shorter incubation time in the mosquito vector before it could be transmitted to other animals.
  • Thus, the new strain spread rapidly in the U.S., completely replacing the original strain.
A strand of D-N-A with 3 nucleotides marked with asterisks.

The RNA Genome of West Nile Virus Accumulates Mutations, Resulting in New Genotypes

Dr. Laura Kramer