Elucidating Genomic Variation and Evolutionary Dynamics of Local Dengue Virus In Host And Vector
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35845/abms.2026.1.483Keywords:
Dengue virus, Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Agarose gel electrophoresis, Sequence Alignment, Phylogeny, Genetic selectionAbstract
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the evolutionary dynamics and genomic variation of DENV, specifically the Capsid precursor membrane (CprM) gene, in both the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti and human hosts.
METHODOLOGYAedes aegypti was molecularly identified using the Cytochrome C oxidase (COI) gene, and mosquito collection sites were mapped using geographic information systems. The Vector (Aedes aegypti) samples and Host (Human) Samples were tested for dengue virus presence using PCR amplification that targets the CprM gene, which, when present, generates a 510 bp fragment. To understand the evolutionary dynamics, nucleotide sequences of the Capsid Precursor Membrane (CprM) gene were retrieved from the NCBI database for mosquito-derived (32 sequences) and human serum–derived (40 sequences) samples, aligned using MEGA11 to identify conserved regions. Maximum Likelihood-constructed phylogenetic trees revealed evolutionary links between Dengue virus strains.
RESULTSStrong purifying selection acting on the CprM gene was found by selection pressure analysis with the Global MG94xREV model and DataMonkey, with a low dN/dS ratio. Regions of high genetic diversity were identified through Shannon entropy analysis, indicating adaptive evolution. The Integer Neighbour-Joining (NJ) Network provided a clear visualisation of the genetic relationships, demonstrating that the viruses have both host-specific and shared lineages.
CONCLUSIONSWe discovered conserved and diversified genomic regions by phylogenetic analysis and molecular identification, revealing adaptive evolution and purifying selection. These findings enhance our understanding of DENV adaptation in hosts and vectors, informing targeted preventive measures.
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