TY - JOUR
T1 - Genetic variability of human metapneumovirus infection
T2 - Evidence of a shift in viral genotype without a change in illness
AU - Agapov, Eugene
AU - Sumino, Kahara C.
AU - Gaudreault-Keener, Monique
AU - Storch, Gregory A.
AU - Holtzman, Michael J.
N1 - Funding Information:
Received 15 March 2005; accepted 30 August 2005; electronically published 28 December 2005. Potential conflicts of interest: none reported. Financial support: National Institutes of Health, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Ruth Kopolow Gift Fund; Martin Schaeffer Fund; Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Charitable Trust. Reprints or correspondence: Dr. Michael J. Holtzman, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8052, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110 ([email protected]).
PY - 2006/2/1
Y1 - 2006/2/1
N2 - Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was identified in 2001 as a cause of acute respiratory illness, but its characteristics are still being defined. We analyzed 3740 nasopharyngeal-wash specimens obtained during 2002-2004, using assays for common respiratory viruses and real-time polymerase chain reaction for hMPV. We detected hMPV in 5% of all specimens, compared with 28% for other respiratory viruses. Nucleotide sequence analysis of hMPV isolates revealed the predominant circulation of hMPV genotype A in the 2003 season but a switch to predominantly genotype B in 2004. Sequence analysis also revealed major differences in the hMPV G and SH genes but relative conservation of the F and N genes within each genotype. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a seasonal switch within hMPV genotype A subtypes as well. Despite genetic variability, we found no difference in the severity of illness caused by various hMPV isolates. These findings suggest that hMPV may vary in genetic structure, to allow for a seasonal shift in predominant genotype and the maintenance of infection rates.
AB - Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was identified in 2001 as a cause of acute respiratory illness, but its characteristics are still being defined. We analyzed 3740 nasopharyngeal-wash specimens obtained during 2002-2004, using assays for common respiratory viruses and real-time polymerase chain reaction for hMPV. We detected hMPV in 5% of all specimens, compared with 28% for other respiratory viruses. Nucleotide sequence analysis of hMPV isolates revealed the predominant circulation of hMPV genotype A in the 2003 season but a switch to predominantly genotype B in 2004. Sequence analysis also revealed major differences in the hMPV G and SH genes but relative conservation of the F and N genes within each genotype. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a seasonal switch within hMPV genotype A subtypes as well. Despite genetic variability, we found no difference in the severity of illness caused by various hMPV isolates. These findings suggest that hMPV may vary in genetic structure, to allow for a seasonal shift in predominant genotype and the maintenance of infection rates.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=31044445695&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/499310
DO - 10.1086/499310
M3 - Article
C2 - 16388487
AN - SCOPUS:31044445695
SN - 0022-1899
VL - 193
SP - 396
EP - 403
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - 3
ER -