Characterization of the Repeat Sequences of Varicella-Zoster Virus

ABSTRACT

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a causative agent for shingles and herpes zoster. The genomes of VZV contain five reiteration (R) sequences and an origin of replication (ORI) sequences composed of tandem repeats whose numbers vary among different strains. Variation of the genome lengths among VZV strains could be attributed by the lengths of R sequences. There was a strong correlation between the lengths of VZV genome and R sequences, while variation of ORI did not contribute the variation of VZV genome length. The high G+C contents of The R sequences in ORF11, 14 and 22 influenced the codon usage of VZV in these ORFs. None of the most frequent 5 codons in R sequences was included in the top 5 most frequent codon in ORF11-14-22 or VZV genome, and vice versa.