Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a causative agent of chickenpox
in primary infection and shingles after its reactivation
from latency. Complete or almost-complete genomic DNA
sequences for various VZV strains have been reported. Recently,
clinical VZV strains were isolated from Korean patients
whose genome was sequenced using high-throughput
sequencing technology. In this study, we analyzed single nucleotide
polymorphism (SNP) of VZV strains to genetically
characterize Korean clinical isolates. Phylogenetic analyses
revealed that three Korean strains, YC01, YC02, and YC03,
were linked to clade 2. Comprehensive SNP analysis identified
86 sites specific for the 5 VZV clades. VZV strains isolated
from Korea did not form a phylogenetic cluster. Rather,
YC02 and YC03 clustered strongly with Chinese strain 84-7
within clade 2, more specifically cluster 2a. Signature sequences
for the cluster 2a were identified and found to play an
important role in the separation of cluster 2a strains from
other clade 2 strains, as shown in substitution studies. Further
genetic analysis with additional strains isolated from Japan,
China, and other Asian countries would provide a novel insight
into the significance of two distinct subclades within
clade 2.
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