RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Li, J. A1 Bhuvanakantham, R. A1 Howe, J. A1 Ng, M.-L.YR 2006 T1 The glycosylation site in the envelope protein of West Nile virus (Sarafend) plays an important role in replication and maturation processes JF Journal of General Virology, VO 87 IS 3 SP 613 OP 622 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.81320-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB The complete genome of West Nile (Sarafend) virus [WN(S)V] was sequenced. Phylogenetic trees utilizing the complete genomic sequence, capsid gene, envelope gene and NS5 gene/3′ untranslated region of WN(S)V classified WN(S)V as a lineage II virus. A full-length infectious clone of WN(S)V with a point mutation in the glycosylation site of the envelope protein (pWNS-S154A) was constructed. Both growth kinetics and the mode of maturation were affected by this mutation. The titre of the pWNS-S154A virus was lower than the wild-type virus. This defect was corrected by the expression of wild-type envelope protein in trans. The pWNS-S154A virus matured intracellularly instead of at the plasma membrane as shown for the parental WN(S)V., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.81320-0