Complete nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of genome segment 5 encoding the outer capsid protein, VP5, of a U.S. isolate of bluetongue virus serotype 11.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the RNA genome segment coding for the outer capsid protein, VP5, of the United States prototypic strain of bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 11 was determined from two overlapping cDNA clones. The genome segment was found to be 1638 nucleotides in length with a single open reading frame coding for a 526 amino acid protein of MW 59,278 and having a net charge of -4.0 at neutral pH. Comparisons of the predicted amino acid sequence of VP5 of BTV 11 with those of the United States serotypes 2, 10, and 13 and two isolates of BTV 1 from Australia and South Africa confirmed earlier reports that VP5 is a conserved protein with no clear regions of variability. A computer generated consensus sequence suggested VP5 of BTV 2 to be representative of the average VP5 sequences reported thus far.