Outbreak of human metapneumovirus detected by use of the Vero E6 cell line in isolates collected in Yamagata, Japan, in 2004 and 2005

A number of epidemiological studies have shown human metapneumovirus (hMPV) to be one of the most important viral agents associated with acute respiratory infections in humans. However, due to the difficulty in growing the virus, all epidemiological studies of hMPV infection have been performed on the basis of the molecular method. Thus, the development of a cell line suitable for the isolation of hMPV from clinical specimens is a crucial step for further research. Using the Vero E6 cell line, which could be stably maintained for 1 month without passage or medium change, we succeeded in isolating 79 strains from 4,112 specimens obtained in Yamagata, Japan, in 2004 and 2005. The total isolation rate was 1.9% (79/4,112). The monthly distribution revealed that hMPV infections occurred between February and April in 2004 and throughout most of the year in 2005. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that subgenogroup B2 was predominant in 2004, whereas three subgenogroups, A2, B1, and B2, had cocirculated in 2005. Although multiple subgenogroups cocirculated in 2005, each individual subgenogroup strain was found to predominate at specific sites. An infectivity assay of hMPV strains also indicated that the infection efficiency in Vero E6 cells was better than that in LLC-MK2 cells. Finally, we found that Vero E6 cells are useful for the isolation of hMPVs and that this utility might aid further research into hMPVs beyond the epidemiological data shown in this study.     

绿色荧光蛋白标记重组人偏肺病毒的制备

目的 人偏肺病毒(human metapneumovirus,hMPV)可致人上、下呼吸道感染.研究利用反向遗传学技术,以带绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)标记的hMPV NL/1/00全长cDNA质粒及4种辅助质粒pCITE-N、pCITE-P、pCITE-M2.1和pClTE-L为基础,在体外制备GFP标记的重组hMPV病毒(命名为rhMPV NL/1/00 GFP).方法 采用LipofectAMINE 2000将带GFP标记的hMPV NL/1/00全长cDNA质粒以及蛋白表达质粒pcITE-N、pCITE-P、pCITE-M2.1和pcITE-L共转染BSR-T7细胞,3 d后取BSR-T7细胞上清液感染Vero-E6细胞,1-4 d后观察Veto-E6细胞出现明显细胞病变(CPE)和绿色荧光,持续观察至第10天.收集病毒上清用于病毒滴度检测.提取培养上清的病毒RNA并通过RT-PCR方法扩增病毒N基因、F基因和G基因验证所获重组病毒.结果 Vero-E6细胞接种1～4 d后观察到明显CPE和绿色荧光,随后CPE加重,荧光信号加强,持续至感染后10 d;第1、5、10、15和20代病毒的滴度波动于105.0～106.5TCID50/ml;RT-PCR检测出符合预期大小的910 bp(N)、450 bp(F)和980 bp(G)条带,经卜述片段cDNA序列测定和比对表明获得的重组病毒与hMPV NL/1/00原型病毒序列一致.rhMPV NL/1/00 GFP重组病毒在体外传代20代后,遗传信号和荧光信号均稳定.结论 采用反向遗传学技术成功拯救了具有感染性的重组hMPV病毒,为hMPV感染发病机制及疫苗研究奠定了基础.     

人偏肺病毒感染住院儿童的临床特征及病毒基因特性分析

目的 了解急性呼吸道感染住院儿童中人偏肺病毒(hMPV)的感染情况、临床特征及人偏肺病毒基因特性.方法 对2006年2月至5月、2008年3月至4月及2008年9月至2009年2月收集的天津市儿童医院急性呼吸道感染住院儿童的310份鼻咽吸取物标本进行巢式PCR检测hMPV N基因片段,并对其中17株N基因片段进行序列测定,分析序列特征并绘制种系发生树.收集所有阳性患者的临床资料.同时采用多重PCR对N基因阳性标本进行其他常见呼吸道病毒的检测.结果 310份标本中共检出20份(6.5%)hMPV.hMPV阳性患儿的年龄中位数为15.0个月(16天～9岁),其中≤2岁患儿占90.0%(18/20).男性占60.0%(12/20).17株N基因种系发生树分析显示,11株为A2b亚型.20例hMPV阳性患儿的临床诊断均为支气管肺炎,占所有采集的肺炎患儿标本的7.1%(20/282),其临床症状以咳嗽、喘息、呼吸急促、发烧等常见.35%(7/20)需要重症监护,15%(3/20)需要吸氧治疗.平均住院时间为(11.9±4.8)d.A、B型间临床特征未见明显差别.hMPV无明显流行高峰.2例hMPV阳性患儿分别与腺病毒和鼻病毒混合感染.结论 hMPV可引起婴幼儿肺炎等严重疾病.天津地区流行的hMPV以A2b为优势流行型.     

绿色荧光标记重组人偏肺病毒空斑形成滴度测定方法的建立

目的 建立用于绿色荧光标记的重组人偏肺病毒(GFP-rhMPV)空斑形成滴度测定方法.方法 基因组中插入绿色荧光蛋白基因的hMPV全序列cDNA质粒和主要蛋白质表达质粒转入细胞293T后获得感染性重组hMPV.GFP-rhMPV在Vero-E6细胞中连续传代提升病毒滴度并保存.将等倍稀释的重组病毒液接种常规制备的Vero-E6细胞单层,用含或不含胰酶的低熔点琼脂精凝胶覆盖细胞,孵育一定时间后,采用荧光显微镜下计数荧光空斑数和抗原抗体蓝斑形成法计算病毒滴度.结果 感染后3 d,荧光显微镜下GFP-rhMPV可在低熔点琼脂糖凝胶覆盖层下形成分界较为清晰的绿色荧光集落,接种后3 d荧光空斑相对独立,便于计数.蓝斑形成法在感染后第5天蓝斑较大,易观察.此前拯救获得的GFP-rhMPV在宿主细胞Vero-E6中的复制滴度可达1×106 PFU以上.结论 成功建立了GFP-rhMPV的空斑形成实验滴度定量检测方法,为hMPV的致病机制、防治手段研究奠定了基础.     

Genotype variability of human metapneumovirus, South Korea

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a virus causing lower respiratory tract infections in children, is classified two major groups or genotypes of hMPV and recently existence of multiple lineages has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of genetic variation and circulation pattern of hMPV in Korea. Between January 2005 and April 2007, nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 1,214 children <16 years of age hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infection at Sanggyepaik Hospital. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested for common respiratory pathogens using immunofluorescence or multiplex RT-PCR. RT-PCR was used to detect hMPV. The PCR products were purified and subsequently sequenced directly on both strands. hMPV was detected in 8.4% (102/1,214) of nasopharyngeal aspirates from children with acute respiratory tract infection. The 102 hMPV strains detected in this study were classified into two distinct F lineages, 87 strains belonged to genogroup A2 (A2a in 42, A2b in 45) and 15 strains to genogroup B. All hMPV subtypes except A1 co-circulated in Korean population. Although alternating predominance of hMPV subtypes from year to year could not be found, the changing predominance of sublineage A2a and A2b was demonstrated.     

A review on epidemiology and impact of human metapneumovirus infections in children using TIAB search strategy on PubMed and PubMed Central articles

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) contribute to morbidity and mortality in children globally. Viruses including human metapneumovirus (hMPV) account for most ARTIs. The virus causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections mostly in young children and contributes to hospitalization of individuals with asthma,chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and cancer. Moreover, hMPV pauses a considerable socio‐economic impact creating a substantial disease burden wherever it has been studied, although hMPV testing is relatively new in many countries. We aimed to comprehensively analyze the epidemiological aspects including prevalence, disease burden and seasonality of hMPV infections in children in the world. We acquired published data extracted from PubMed and PubMed Central articles using the title and abstract (TIAB)search strategy for the major key words on hMPV infections from 9/54 African, 11/35 American, 20/50 Asian, 2/14 Australian/Oceanian and 20/51 European countries. According to the findings of this review, the prevalence of hMPV infection ranges from 1.1 to 86% in children of less than 5 years of age globally. Presence of many hMPV genotypes (A1, A2, B1, B2) and sub‐genotypes (A2a, A2b, A2c, B2a, B2b) suggests a rapid evolution of the virus with limited influence by time and geography. hMPV infection mostly affects children between 2 to 5 years of age. The virus is active throughout the year in the tropics and epidemics occur during the winter and spring in temperate climates, contributing to a substantial disease burden globally.     

Phylogenetic analysis of human metapneumovirus from New York State patients during February through April 2010

Background

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is the second leading cause of lower respiratory infection (LRI) in children around the world and has been linked to LRI in multiple studies. Currently, hMPV is classified into 2 major subtypes (A and B), each with 2 subgroups (1 and 2).

Objective

To determine which hMPV genotypes were present in NYS patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) from February through April 2010, during a period of unusually heightened activity.

Study design

Specimens were collected from February through April of 2010 from patients presenting with ILI who were previously confirmed as positive for hMPV by real-time RT-PCR. A 700 base pair region of the hMPV fusion (F) gene was amplified, sequenced and resulting sequences aligned. A phylogenic tree was constructed based on prototype strains, and the partial F gene sequences obtained in this study.

Results

Bi-directional sequence was obtained from 30 patient samples and included in the phylogenic analysis. Specimen sequences grouped into hMPV genotype A2a (16), A2b (9), B2 (4) and B1 (1). No A1 genotypes were found.

Conclusion

Previously, reports have demonstrated that genotypes A1, A2, B1 and B2 circulate every season, usually with one dominant strain. In contrast, late in the 2009-2010 respiratory season, 4 of the 5 recognized genotypes of hMPV were isolated from NYS ILI patients, and by sequencing a larger portion of the fusion gene, we were able to identify the A2a and A2b genotypes.     

人偏肺病毒广州分离株全基因组序列测定及分析

目的 探讨广州地区儿童感染的偏肺病毒基因组分子结构特点和基因型类型.方法 参考GenBank上的偏肺病毒00-1株(AF371337)基因组设计分段扩增引物,进行RT-PCR分段扩增偏肺病毒基因组,克隆于T载体上,序列测定,用Clustal W/X、DNASTAR、MEGA4.1等软件分析基因组序列.结果 偏肺病毒hMPVgz01全基因组为13 327 bp,提交到GenBank上的序列号为GQ153651,有8个开放阅读框(open reading frames,ORFs),基因组结构为:3-N-P-M-F-M2-SH-G-L-5;将hMPVgz01株全基因组核苷酸序列与GenBank上的偏肺病毒全基因组序列进行Clustal W比较,发现与偏肺病毒的A组相似性较高,为92%～97%,与A2b组的BJ1887相似性为最高,而与B组相似性为81%,与C组的禽偏肺病毒为71%.将hMPVgz01株的N、F、G基因与偏肺病毒的A1、A2、B1、B2的相对应基因进行相似性比较,同样也是与A2b型的相似性为最高,因此确认广州地区的hMPVgz01株为A2b型.结论 广州地区儿童感染的偏肺病毒hMPVgz01株全基因组序列为13 327 bp,GenBank 序列号为GQ153651,hMPVgz01与偏肺病毒的A2b型相似性最高,确认hMPVgz01株属于偏肺病毒A2b型.     

Severe metapneumovirus infections among immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients admitted to hospital with respiratory infection

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is considered an important cause of acute respiratory infections. hMPV can cause morbidity in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and recent research has demonstrated that it is an important virus in patients admitted to hospital with respiratory infections and suspected of having pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1pdm09) virus. The purpose of this study was to investigate infections caused by hMPV in two groups of patients admitted to hospital: Immunocompromized patients with a potential risk of severe outcomes and immunocompetent patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. A total of 288 samples were tested: 165 samples were collected from patients with suspected influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 infection during the first pandemic wave in 2009; and 123 samples were collected from patients of a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation program in 2008–2009. Amplification of the hMPV genes was performed by polymerase chain reaction. This was followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. hMPV was detected in 14.2% (41/288) of all samples: 17% (28/165) of immunocompetent patients with suspected H1N1 infection and 10.6% (13/123) among hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. hMPV accounted for 12.1% (8/66) of immunocompetent adults patients with severe respiratory infections (median age, 55.9 years). Two hMPV subtypes were identified, A2 (26.9%; 7/26) and B2 (73.1%; 19/26) but no difference was observed between the patient groups in terms of age or immunosuppression level. This study highlights the significance of hMPV in immunocompetent adult patients with severe infections and further investigations are recommended for understanding the impact of this virus. J. Med. Virol. 85:530–536, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

2007—2011年长沙地区急性下呼吸道感染住院儿童人偏肺病毒的流行状况

目的了解人偏肺病毒（hMPV）在长沙地区急性下呼吸道感染住院患儿中的流行病学特点。方法收集2007年9月至2011年2月因急性下呼吸道感染在湖南省人民医院儿科医学中心住院儿童的鼻咽抽吸物（nasopharyngealaspirates,NPA）样本2613份,采用逆转录聚合酶链反应法（RT—PCR）检测hMPVM基因,将阳性PCR扩增产物测序并与GenBank中已知的hMPV参考株进行比对、分析。结果2613份标本中hMPV阳性检出数135例,检出率为5．2％,男女之间的检出率比较有统计学差异（x2=8．007,P=0．003）,hMPV阳性检出患儿的年龄以1岁以内多见（63．2％）。hMPV阳性检出率在春季呈现高峰,从检出季节分布显示A2b型主要在冬春季节流行,而B2型主要在春夏季流行。135例hMPV长沙株分为A型和B型两个主要的基因型,其中A2b亚型在2007--2008年为优势流行型别,2009--2010年A2b和B2型共同流行,B2亚型在2011年呈优势流行型别。135例hMPV检出阳性患儿中有66例（48．9％）存在混合病毒感染,其中与HBoV混合检出率最高。结论长沙地区部分儿童的急性下呼吸道感染与hMPV有关,且阳性检出患儿年龄主要集中在1岁以下,男多于女,主要流行季节在春季,A2b型和B2型优势基因型在长沙地区共同流行,与其他病毒混合检出率较高。     

Co-circulating genetically divergent A2 human metapneumovirus strains among children in southern Taiwan

An outbreak of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) among children in southern Taiwan in 2004 prompted the investigation of the molecular epidemiology of hMPV from September 2003 to August 2005. Respiratory specimens that were culture negative for a panel of respiratory viruses were examined for the presence of hMPV by RT-PCR. The results indicated that 59 out of 546 (10.8%) children were hMPV-positive. The majority of these hMPV-positive children were less than 2 years old (59.4%), females (61%), and inpatients (67.8%). Infections occurred throughout the year, but peaked during the spring and/or summer months. Sequence analysis of the fusion gene from the isolates revealed two phylogenetic groups with five possible lineages (A1, A2a/A2b, B1, and B2). Among these co-circulating strains, A2 strains were most frequently observed and demonstrated the greatest divergence. Deduced amino acid sequence analysis identified several variant amino acids specific to the A2 lineage. Lineage-specific amino acid substitutions were noted at aa233, aa286, aa312, aa348, and aa296. This study indicated that genetically divergent strains of hMPV which caused respiratory disease and hospitalization were circulating among children in Taiwan.     

Co-circulation of genetically distinct human metapneumovirus and human bocavirus strains in young children with respiratory tract infections in Italy

The discovery of human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) and human Bocavirus (hBoV) identified the etiological causes of several cases of acute respiratory tract infections in children. This report describes the molecular epidemiology of hMPV and hBoV infections observed following viral surveillance of children hospitalized for acute respiratory tract infections in Milan, Italy. Pharyngeal swabs were collected from 240 children ≤3 years of age (130 males, 110 females; median age, 5.0 months; IQR, 2.0-12.5 months) and tested for respiratory viruses, including hMPV and hBoV, by molecular methods. hMPV-RNA and hBoV-DNA positive samples were characterized molecularly and a phylogenetical analysis was performed. PCR analysis identified 131/240 (54.6%) samples positive for at least one virus. The frequency of hMPV and hBoV infections was similar (8.3% and 12.1%, respectively). Both infections were associated with lower respiratory tract infections: hMPV was present as a single infectious agent in 7.2% of children with bronchiolitis, hBoV was associated with 18.5% of pediatric pneumonias and identified frequently as a single etiological agent. Genetically distinct hMPV and hBoV strains were identified in children examined with respiratory tract infections. Phylogenetic analysis showed an increased prevalence of hMPV genotype A (A2b sublineage) compared to genotype B (80% vs. 20%, respectively) and of the hBoV genotype St2 compared to genotype St1 (71.4% vs. 28.6%, respectively). Interestingly, a shift in hMPV infections resulting from A2 strains has been observed in recent years. In addition, the occurrence of recombination events between two hBoV strains with a breakpoint located in the VP1/VP2 region was identified.     

Subtype B avian metapneumovirus resembles subtype A more closely than subtype C or human metapneumovirus with respect to the phosphoprotein,and second matrix and small hydrophobic proteins

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) subtype B (aMPV/B) nucleotide sequences were obtained for the phosphoprotein (P), second matrix protein (M2), and small hydrophobic protein (SH) genes. By comparison with sequences from other metapneumoviruses, aMPV/B was most similar to subtype A aMPV (aMPV/A) relative to the US subtype C isolates (aMPV/C) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). Strictly conserved residues common to all members of the Pneumovirinae were identified in the predicted amino acid sequences of the P and M2 protein-predicted amino acid sequences. The Cys(3)-His(1) motif, thought to be important for binding zinc, was also present in the aMPV M2 predicted protein sequences. For both the P and M2-1 protein-predicted amino acid sequences, aMPV/B was most similar to aMPV/A (72 and 89% identity, respectively), having only approximately 52 and 70% identity, respectively, relative to aMPV/C and hMPV. Differences were more marked in the M2-2 proteins, subtype B having 64% identity with subtype A but < or = 25% identity with subtype C and hMPV. The A and B subtypes of aMPV had predicted amino acid sequence identities for the SH protein of 47%, and less than 20% with that of hMPV. An SH gene was not detected in the aMPV/C. Phylogenetically, aMPV/B clustered with aMPV/A, while aMPV/C grouped with hMPV.