[Genotypes of rubella viruses circulating in Russia]

The phylogenetic analysis of rubella virus gene E1 in 6 strains isolated in Russia in 1967 - 1997 and in 36 isolates obtained from different countries during the period of 1963 - 1997 was carried out. Most of the genotypes were classified with genotype 1--these were strains from Europe, North America, Japan, China. Strains not included into genotype 1 were found to exhibit accelerated evolution in comparison with strains of genotype 1, but this was only seeming acceleration, as the strains of genotype "non-1" formed 3 sharply defined groups, standing quite apart, whose intragroup divergence was less or equal to that within genotype 1. The genetic distance between these 3 groups and genotype 1 was essentially higher than the intragroup divergence and equal to 6.20 - 8.21%. The data obtained in this study made it possible to regard these groups as separate genotypes. The suggestion was made that five strains isolated in Russia should be classified with genotypes IIB or III in contrast to strains of genotype II from India, China, South Korea, Italy.