Comparison between ectodomain and G2 region of G glycoprotein for genotyping of HRSV

Abstract

The Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV), isolated in 1955, is the main cause of hospitalization of babies and infants with respiratory illness. Several studies have been conducted worldwide aiming the development of a safe and effective vaccine against HRSV. The G2 region of glycoprotein G is used as genotyping default. In the present study, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of G protein and a comparative study between G2 region and ectodomain of attachment glycoprotein. Fifty-three nasal swab samples from children less than 5 years old and presenting symptoms of acute respiratory illness, assisted at the University Hospital (UH) of University of Sao Paulo (USP) in 2004, were submitted to sequencing by PCR and compared with GenBank sequences. We concluded that the G2 region is adequate for HRSV genotyping. The Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is an enveloped nonsegmented negative-strand RNA virus (family Paramyxoviridae, genus Pneumovirus). HRSV is the main cause of respiratory infections leading to infant hospitalization (5,14). Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the commonest cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide, and are responsible for about 30% of deaths in developing countries (12). Outbreaks of respiratory infections caused by HRSV occur yearly and previous infection do not protect against new infections although reinfections with HRSV are usually less severe (9,10). The two major groups of HRSV are classified into group A strains with GA1-GA7 (21,22) and SAA1 (31) genotypes, and group B strains with GB1-GB4 (21) and SAB1-SAB3 (31) genotypes.Most studies concerning genetic variability and evolution of attachment G protein are based on HRSV A strains (8,24,37), and there is little information available about the genetic diversity and molecular evolution of HRSV B strains (15,27,29). The predominance of HRSV A over HRSV B viruses has been attributed to the higher variability among the HRSV A strains (21,31).According to Purcell and Fergie (23), the comparison of clinical effects and the different groups and genotypes are hampered by other factors that affect the severity of infection by HRSV, such as prematurity, age of the children, and presence of other pre-existing conditions.The present study aimed to sequence the glycoprotein G gene and compare the complete sequencing of ectodomain of gene G with the G2 region, in order to identify the existence of differences in HRSV genotyping. Such information provides correct identification of HRSV genotypes, thus contributing to the development of a secure vaccine. Despite isolated more than 50 years ago, the virus is still considered an important agent of respiratory infections and hospital internments. In this scenario, a new vaccine could create new and more efficient options for prevention and treatment of infections caused by HRSV.

Respiratory syncytial virus epidemic periods in an equatorial city of Brazil

“…Important epidemiological data are generated by analysis of antigenic and genomic characterization of circulating HRSV in a particular region. There is limited information regarding the molecular epidemiology of HRSV in Brazil, and only one published study has analyzed HRSV strains circulating in a city in the country's Northeast region . Limited financial resources led to the small number of HRSV strains analyzed by sequencing in the present study.…”

“…There is limited information regarding the molecular epidemiology of HRSV in Brazil, and only one published study has analyzed HRSV strains circulating in a city in the country's Northeast region. 13,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Limited financial resources led to the small number of HRSV strains analyzed by sequencing in the present study. Nevertheless, the results of this analysis represent the first data on molecular epidemiology of HRSV in a Brazilian equatorial region.…”

Epidemiology and genetic variability of human metapneumovirus during a 4‐year‐long study in Southeastern Brazil

“…Pneumoviruses (hRSV and hMPV) encode two major surface glycoproteins (F and G) [van den Hoogen et al, 2002;Campos et al, 2007]. Neutralizing antibodies against the F and G glycoproteins are known to be important for protection against hRSV infection.…”

Variabilidade genética da proteína G do HRSV de amostras com o genótipo BA.

“…Geralmente os dois grupos apresentam co-circulação durante os surtos, sendo o HRSV do grupo A isolado mais freqüentemente do que o grupo B, embora haja relatos de predominância do grupo B em várias localidades e anos diferentes VIEGAS et al, 2005;FRABASILE et al, 2003;SCOTT et al, 2004;ZLATEVA et al, 2004ZLATEVA et al, , 2007GILCA et al, 2006;HENDRY et al, 1986;LUKIC-GRLIC et al, 1998;KAPLAN et al, 2008;MLINARIC et al, 2009). Embora o número de amostras caracterizadas no presente estudo seja pequeno em alguns anos, verificamos que durante o período estudado houve a co-circulação de ambos os grupos, com predominância alternada entre os grupos A (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 e 2008) e grupo B (2001, 2005, 2006e 2009 CINTRA et al, 2001;OLIVEIRA et al, 2008;BOTOSSO 2002BOTOSSO , 2004BOTOSSO , 2006CAMPOS et al, 2007) (PERET et al, 1998(PERET et al, , 2000VENTER et al, 2001;BOTOSSO, 2002;BOTOSSO et al, 2009;MATHENSON et al, 2006;ZLATEVA et al, 2004ZLATEVA et al, , 2005MOURA et al, 2004;SILVA et al, 2008) (SCOTT et al, 2004;TRENTO et al, 2003TRENTO et al, , 2006TRENTO et al, e 2010NAGAI et al, 2004, BOTOSSO et al, 2009ZLATEVA et al, 2007;PARVEEN et al, 2006;SATO et al, 2005;VISSER et al, 2008). ...…”