B5r gene based sequence analysis of Indian buffalopox virus isolates in relation to other orthopoxviruses.

We determined complete nucleotide sequence of B5R gene homologue of Vaccinia virus (VACV) in five Buffalopox virus (BPXV) isolates of Indian origin. The obtained sequences were compared with themselves and with corresponding sequences of the other orthopoxviruses. Sequence analysis revealed 99.799.8% and 99.499.7% identities among the BPXV isolates for B5R gene at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. Sequence identities of B5R gene between BPXV and VACV isolates (98.199.7%) or other orthopoxviruses (95.699.2%) showed highly conserved nature of this protein and a closer relationship of BPXV isolates to VACV than to other orthopoxviruses.