Respiratory syncytial virus heterogeneity during an epidemic: analysis by limited nucleotide sequencing (SH gene) and restriction mapping (N gene)

Abstract

The genes encoding the small hydrophobic (SH) proteins of a series of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus strains were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction, cloned and sequenced. Analysis of the SH gene sequences from 12 RS virus strains isolated between 1956 and 1989 confirmed the homogeneity of the two subgroups, A and B, previously defined serologically. Although there is only 76% deduced amino acid sequence identity of SH proteins between subgroups, there was little variation in deduced amino acid sequences within the subgroups; nucleotide homologies within the subgroups ranged between 93 % and 99 %. Forty-two isolates of RS virus from a single epidemic season (autumn/winter 1989) were also examined to determine their relatedness. For these isolates regions of both the SH and nucleocapsid protein genes of each isolate were amplified and these regions were further analysed by direct nucleotide sequencing or restriction mapping. It was possible to discriminate at least six different lineages (or substrains) of RS virus circulating at the same time and in the same locality.

The outcome of 26 patients with respiratory syncytial virus infection following allogeneic stem cell transplantation

“…Studies on successive epidemics at a single location have reported that several genotypes co-circulate during each epidemic, the proportion of which vary, and that the genotypes which predominate in one epidemic tend to become less significant in the next epidemic. 9,11,19,20 We are unable to determine if specific treatment for RSV affected outcome. Only 15 of 26 patients received anti-RSV therapy, with 10 of 15 receiving ribavirin.…”

“…Restriction enzyme mapping of the N gene has allowed the classification of RSV isolates into six (NP1-NP6) genotypes. 9 Sequence analysis of the SH gene has been used to further subdivide subgroup A RSV isolates into four genotypes (SHL 1,3,4; SHL2; SHL5 and SHL6). G gene sequence variability has been shown to be closely related to these SHL genotypes and restriction enzyme mapping of the G gene can be used to assign subgroup A isolates to the SHL lineages.…”

Natural Killer Cells Are Involved in Acute Lung Immune Injury Caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

“…Briefly, total RNA was extracted from whole-lung tissue and then cDNA was synthesized. Primers specific for the nucleocapsid (N) gene of RSV were used (forward, 5=-GGAACAAGTTGTT GAGGTTTATGAATATGC-3=; reverse, 5=-CTTCTGCTGTCAAGTCTA GTACACTGTAGT-3=) (2). The viral loads in each sample were calculated by relative quantification.…”

Glycosaminoglycan Sulfation Requirements for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

“…Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) encodes 11 proteins, 3 of which are transmembrane surface glycoproteins found in the viral envelope: the G (glycoprotein) (18,40), F (fusion) (11), and SH (small hydrophobic) (7,12) proteins. The G protein is a type II transmembrane protein, with an N-terminal transmembrane domain.…”