molecular phylogenic positions within the Alphaherpesvirinae

The molecular phylogeny of macropodid herpes-viruses 1 and 2 (MaHV-1 and-2) has been investi-gated by cloning and sequencing the genes en-coding glycoprotein B from both viruses. Phylo-genetic reconstructions based on the putative amino acid sequences of glycoprotein B indicate that MaHV-1 and-2 are most closely related to the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae. Within the Alpha-herpesvirinae, MaHV-1 and-2 are closely associated with those herpesviruses that infect primates. This phylogenetic relationship does not fit the constraints of the proposed co-evolution theory described for other members of the Alpha-herpesvirinae which have mammalian hosts. Macropodid herpesviruses (MaHVs) have been implicate