Sequences and Phylogenetic Analysis of Envelope (E) Gene of Iranian Infectious Bronchitis Virus Isolates in Iran

Background and Aims: Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is the etiological agent of infectious bronchitis (IB), which is an acute and highly contagious disease of the respiratory and sometimes the urogenital tracts of chickens. In Iran, the disease has been identified in chicken flocks with serological and virus isolation methods. Gene 3c (E) encode envelop (small membrane) protein. For envelope protein tree functions has been determined:1) Pivotal roles in virion assembly and morphogenesis 2) Induction of apoptosis and 3) Ion channel activity. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the E gene of genome fragment of 9 IBV field isolates from Iranian poultry farms were sequenced and compared with sequences from nonIranian origin. Results: Results indicate that nucleotide homology among these isolates with E genes was between 80.1% to 100%. The results indicated that, we had 3 clades of IBV based on E gene in Iran: 4/91Like, Massachusetts and Gray Like. Conclusion: Most Iranian isolates were located in 4/91 clade. In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated that the circulating IBV strains in commercial flocks in Iran based on E gene were genetically diverse and underwent continuing evolution.