Complete genome sequencing of mosquito and human isolates of Ngari virus

Ngari virus (NRIV) is a recently described, naturally occurring reassortant between two other orthobunyaviruses, Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) and Batai virus (BATV). Intriguingly, this reassortment was associated with the acquisition of heightened virulence, although the molecular basis for this is not understood. Here we report the first complete genome sequences of Ngari virus. We include five isolates from various geographical locations, as well as samples isolated from both mosquitos and human cases. Based on an analysis of these sequence data, NRIVs are clearly genetically distinct from all known BUNV and BATV strains but are very closely related to one another regardless of their source.