Genetic diversity of Human parainfluenza virus 3 in Latin America. Human respirovirus 3

The genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of respiratory viruses, including human parainfluenza virus 3 (hPIV3), have not been well characterized in Latin America where there is a marked lack of complete genome sequence data despite a relatively severe burden of respiratory disease. To address this knowledge gap, we plan to sequence the genome of approximately 200 hPIV3 samples obtained from 2007-2012. The samples were obtained from three sites in Peru (Iquitos, Lima, Piura), which vary substantially in climate, human movement patterns, and population density. The data generated will greatly expand our knowledge of the global genetic diversity of this important human respiratory pathogen, and sampling from all three sites will facilitate the study of the role of climate, human movements, and population density in the evolution and ecology of this human respiratory virus.