Ganciclovir resistance mutations in UL97 and UL54 genes of Human cytomegalovirus isolates resistant to ganciclovir

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) resistance to ganciclovir results from mutations in viral phosphotransferase (UL97) and/or DNA polymerase (UL54) genes. The HCMV isolates from the blood of immunocompromised patients with persisting presence of the pp65 antigen in the blood in spite of ganciclovir therapy were tested for ganciclovir susceptibility by an immediate-early antigen plaque reduction assay, and the UL54 and UL97 genes were sequenced. Nine isolates from eight patients (six patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), one liver transplant recipient and one renal transplant recipient) showed phenotypic resistance to ganciclovir. All these ganciclovir-resistant HCMV isolates harbored one or more of the following UL97 mutations: M460V, A594V, A594T, L595S, C603W, and M615V. Two isolates harbored the P522S mutation in the UL54 gene. The M615V mutation in the UL97 gene has not been reported earlier and its role in ganciclovir resistance remains to be elucidated. In ganciclovir-resistant HCMV isolates the UL54 gene was less frequently mutated than the UL97 gene. The P522S mutation was relatively frequent in UL54-mutated HCMV isolates.     

Human cytomegalovirus UL131A, UL130 and UL128 genes are highly conserved among field isolates

Summary. Coding sequences of the UL131A, UL130, and UL128 genes of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) were found to be highly conserved among 34 field isolates from pregnant women with primary HCMV infection and their fetuses or newborns, as well as from solid organ transplant recipients and patients with AIDS. No strain clustering was observed. In contrast, sequencing of UL55 (gB coding gene) allowed the 34 isolates to be clustered into 4 genotypes. The conservation of the UL131A-UL128 locus is consistent with the conclusion that the three encoded proteins are all essential for growth of HCMV in endothelial cells and virus transfer to leukocytes.     

Distribution of UL144, US28 and UL55 genotypes in Polish newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus infections

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common congenital infection. HCMV strains display genetic variability in different regions. Distribution of HCMV genotypes in the population of congenitally infected newborns from Central Poland and viral load in newborns' blood is described and discussed. HCMV isolates were analysed by sequencing at three sites on the genome: the UL144 tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-like receptor gene, the US28 beta-chemokine receptor gene and the UL55 envelope glycoprotein B (gB) gene. The newborns' blood was examined for HCMV DNA with a nested (UL144, UL55) or heminested (US28) polymerase chain reaction, and the genotypes were determined by sequence analysis. HCMV DNA was detectable in 25 out of 55 examined newborns born by HCMV-infected mothers (45.5%). The blood viral load in mother-infant pairs was determined. Most of the newborns had identical virus genotype, gB2 (96%), UL144 B1 (88%) and US28 A2 (84%). These genotypes were detected in all newborns with asymptomatic congenital infection. The occurrence of UL144 B1 or US28 A2 genotypes in the babies examined was significant in comparison to other genotypes (p=0.0002 and p=0.040 respectively). There was no association between specific gB subtypes in all patients groups (p=0.463). There was no correlation between HCMV genotypes and the outcome.     

Polymorphisms of human cytomegalovirus UL148A, UL148B, UL148C, UL148D genes in clinical strains.

BACKGROUND: Clinical isolates of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) display polymorphisms in multiple genes. Some authors have suggested that polymorphisms are implicated in HCMV-induced immunopathogenesis, as well as in strain-specific behaviors, such as tissue-tropism and the ability to establish persistent or latent infections. OBJECTIVE: To describe the features of HCMV UL148A, UL148B, UL148C and UL148D open reading frames (ORFs) and the variable sites within the frames in clinical strains. STUDY DESIGN: PCR was performed to amplify these ORFs in 22 clinical strains. PCR amplification products were sequenced directly and analyzed. RESULTS: The nucleotide diversity of UL148A, UL148B, UL148C and UL148D ORFs in studied strains is 0.5-8.3%, 0.5-4.6%, 0.5-3% and 1.7-8.1%, respectively; the amino acid diversity of their putative proteins is 1.3-6.3%, 1.3-5.0%, 1.3-3.9% and 1.7-8.1%, respectively, related to the Merlin strain. The modification sites of UL148A, UL148B, UL148C and UL148D predicted proteins from strains in unpassaged urine samples were conserved, except for strain U96, compared with that of the Merlin strain. By phylogenetic and statistical analysis, the UL148A and UL148D sequences of clinical strains were classified into three groups. CONCLUSION: Compared to the UL148A, UL148B and UL148D ORFs, the UL148C ORF was relatively conserved, as was the amino acid sequence of the UL148C putative protein. Isolates that have been passaged several times in human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELF) showed some changes of modification sites, however. A discrete linkage was found between the groups of UL148A gene and those of UL148D gene.     

Sequence variability of the alpha-chemokine UL146 from clinical strains of human cytomegalovirus

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen that infects a variety of cell types in vivo. A region (referred to as UL/b') present in the Toledo strain of HCMV and low passage clinical isolates contains 22 additional genes, which are absent in the highly passaged laboratory strain AD169. One of these genes, UL146, encodes an alpha-chemokine. PCR amplification and sequencing of this gene from serial samples obtained from transplant recipients and samples from infants with suspected congenital HCMV infection, revealed that UL146 is a hypervariable gene in vivo. However, genetic changes were highly conserved in individuals and in renal transplant recipients multiple genotypes of UL146 were present. The majority of strains characterized maintained the conserved ELRCXC motif present in the Toledo strain of HCMV. These results provide further evidence that AD169 does not represent the authentic virus in vivo and although Towne and Toledo are more representative, major genetic differences still exist. Mixed populations of HCMV strains occur in vivo so cloning of these strains is essential if an authentic genotype is to be defined.     

Rapid detection by reverse hybridization of mutations in the UL97 gene of human cytomegalovirus conferring resistance to ganciclovir.

BACKGROUND OF STUDY: Diseases due to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection constitute a major threat in marrow and solid organ transplant recipients. Ganciclovir (GCV) is widely used in prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy of active HCMV infection. Resistance to ganciclovir (GCV) may arise at variable frequency under GCV therapy and is conferred by mutations (i) in the UL97 gene (codons 460, 520, and 591-607) encoding a phosphotransferase which is essential for monophosphorylation of GCV and, to a lesser extent, (ii) in the UL54 gene coding for the DNA polymerase of HCMV. OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to develop a rapid assay to screen for emerging GCV resistance mutations in the UL97 gene of HCMV whereby avoiding virus isolation and nucleotide sequencing procedures. STUDY DESIGN: A nested PCR (nPCR) amplifying UL97 codons 450-672 was developed. Nested amplicons were subsequently sequenced directly. Oligonucleotides for use in a reverse hybridization assay were designed to detect relevant non-synonymous mutations at codons UL97 460, 520, 603 and 607. Strain AD169 served as a wild-type control. RESULTS: UL97-specific nPCR amplicons were obtained from 18 EDTA blood samples of ten transplant recipients receiving GCV for more than 30 days. In three consecutive samples from a single patient a GCV resistance mutation at codon 603 (C-->W) was detected. In addition, two out of four cell culture-adapted HCMV isolates known to exhibit GCV resistance in vitro revealed mutations at codons 460 (M-->V) and 607 (C-->Y), respectively. By reverse hybridization a discrimination of single nucleotide changes at codons 460, 520, 603 and 607 was possible whereby matching exactly the results of the nucleotide sequence analysis for all 23 amplicons examined. CONCLUSIONS: Reverse hybridization appeared to be a rapid and convenient alternative to nucleotide sequencing when screening the UL97 gene of HCMV for selected markers of GCV resistance.     

Polymorphisms within human cytomegalovirus chemokine (UL146/UL147) and cytokine receptor genes (UL144) are not predictive of sequelae in congenitally infected children

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) viral chemokine, UL146, and TNF alpha-like receptor UL144 genes show a high degree of hypervariability in clinical isolates. These proteins are predicted to be immune modulators and may contribute to the pathogenesis of HCMV infections. We analyzed the UL146 and UL144 genetic variation of 51 HCMV isolates from congenitally infected children and 13 isolates from children in childcare. There was no statistically significant correlation between UL146 and UL144 genotypes and HCMV disease and/or sequelae. However, there were some groups that had a relatively large proportion of asymptomatic outcomes. These included UL146 group 8 (7/8 asymptomatic) and UL146 group 10 (3/3 asymptomatic). UL144 group B had 11/15 (73%) asymptomatic. UL146 and UL144 genes remained stable in serial isolates from children in daycare for intervals up to three years. These results indicate that most UL146 and UL144 genotypes do not predict clinical sequelae following congenital HCMV infections.     

Molecular Epidemiology of Cytomegalovirus UL97 and UL54 variants in Taiwan

BackgroundThe antiviral resistance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections is associated with mutations in the CMV UL54 and UL97 gene regions and is a serious problem in immunocompromised patients. However, the molecular epidemiology of UL54 and UL97 in Taiwan is unclear.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of patients with CMV infections between January and December 2016 in two tertiary hospitals, one regional hospital in Taiwan. CMV DNAemia was confirmed by elevated CMV DNA titers. Then the regions of the UL54 and UL97 mutations were amplified by PCR and sequenced.ResultsOf 729 patients with CMV syndrome, 112 CMV DNAemia patients were enrolled. Twelve novel variants in UL54 (P342S, S384F, K434R, S673F, T754M, R778H, C814S, M827I, G878E, S880L, E888K, and S976N) and one novel variant in UL97 (M615T) were discovered. UL97 antiviral resistance mutations (L595S, M460I, and M460V) were found in four patients (3.6%). In the drug resistance strains, the mutation events occurred after 83–150 days of therapy, and drug resistance was also observed in these patients. The following high frequency variants were observed: D605E in UL97 and A885T, N898D, V355A, N685S, and A688V in UL54.ConclusionThe results demonstrate that the positive rate of CMV DNAemia was 15.3% (112/729) among the patients with clinical CMV infection symptoms. The proportion of antiviral resistance CMV strains within CMV DNAemia patients was 3.6%. With the information of polymorphism incidence in the UL54 and UL97 patients from our study, determination of the genetic profile of UL54 and UL97 among immunocompromised populations with refractory CMV infection is recommended.     

先天性巨结肠患者人类巨细胞病毒UL139基因多态性的研究

目的研究人巨细胞病毒（HCMV）UL139基因在先天性巨结肠（HD）临床株中的多态性，探讨其多态性与HD之间的关系。方法对53株HD患儿痉挛段肠组织标本和6株尿标本的临床株进行UL139开放阅读框（ORF）的扩增及测序。对照组为10个无症状HCMV感染患儿的尿标本。结果28个HD临床株完成测序，进化树分析结果显示UL139基因DNA序列分为3组5个基因型。G3为主要基因型（48．1％）。与对照组比较，X^2=7．378，P=0．194。24个临床株同时完成了HCMVUL144基因测序，HCMVUL144与UL139基因经Kendall等级相关分析r=-0．114，P=0．425。不同临床分型HD分散分布于UL139各个基因型中。结论HCMVUL139基因具有高度的多态性；UL139基因分型与HD的临床分型无关；UL139基因与UL144基因无相关性。     

Contribution of next generation sequencing to early detection of cytomegalovirus UL97 emerging mutants and viral subpopulations analysis in kidney transplant recipients

BackgroundCytomegalovirus (CMV) is the major opportunistic virus encountered after transplantation, and resistant variants challenge antiviral treatment. We studied the emergence and evolution of the canonical UL97 L595S mutation in four kidney recipients by comparing Sanger sequencing with a specific next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay, and assessed the global evolution of UL97 gene variability.Study designPlasmids harbouring wild-type and/or L595S mutated UL97 genes were used to assess the analytical performances of NGS assay. UL97 gene was retrospectively analysed in patients’ samples drawn during CMV infection follow-up, Shannon entropy (Sn) was calculated and phylogenetic analyses were performed.ResultsWild-type and L595S plasmids PCR products were mixed to obtain L595S concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 100%. Mean triplicate NGS results were 0, 0.71, 1.79, 5.30, 13.17, 17 and 100%, respectively, while Sanger sequencing only detected L595S when above 20%. The NGS mean error rate was 0.196 ± 0.07%. In the four patients, emergence of L595S mutation under ganciclovir treatment was followed-up. After foscarnet rescue therapy, leading to undetectable CMV viral load, in two patients, L595S mutant re-emerged, but was only detected by NGS technology (14% and 9.6%). Using NGS data, phylogenetic trees and Sn showed a complex evolution of concomitant viral subpopulations.ConclusionsNGS technology allowed a deeper discrimination of the emergence and persistence of a drug resistance mutation, which could be pertinent to investigate when routine Sanger sequencing detects only wild-type strains. Moreover, NGS improved sensitivity helps in studying viral abundance, dynamics and diversity, less approachable with Sanger sequencing.     

人巨细胞病毒UL143基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 探讨人巨细胞病毒(human eytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL143序列在临床患儿低传代分离株中的多态性及其与临床疾病的关系.方法 对19株HCMV临床低传代分离株进行HCMV-UL143 PCR扩增分析及伞序列测定分析.结果 19株HCMV感染患儿临床分离株均因碱基插入造成移码突变,开放阅读框架(ORF)比Toledo株短.根据序列变异情况可将19个序列分为2组,第1组16个序列新增一个MYRISTYL位点;缺失2个PKC磷酸化位点.未发现黄疸、小头畸形、先天性巨结肠等不同疾病类型的序列之间的差异.结论 HCMV-UL143较多存在于临床低传代分离株中,序列呈现一定多态性.     

人巨细胞病毒UL143基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 探讨人巨细胞病毒(human eytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL143序列在临床患儿低传代分离株中的多态性及其与临床疾病的关系.方法 对19株HCMV临床低传代分离株进行HCMV-UL143 PCR扩增分析及伞序列测定分析.结果 19株HCMV感染患儿临床分离株均因碱基插入造成移码突变,开放阅读框架(ORF)比Toledo株短.根据序列变异情况可将19个序列分为2组,第1组16个序列新增一个MYRISTYL位点;缺失2个PKC磷酸化位点.未发现黄疸、小头畸形、先天性巨结肠等不同疾病类型的序列之间的差异.结论 HCMV-UL143较多存在于临床低传代分离株中,序列呈现一定多态性.     

广州地区人巨细胞病毒临床低传代株UL136基因的序列特征及多态性

目的 研究广州地区新生儿感染人巨细胞病毒(HCMV)临床低传代株UL136基因的序列特征与基因多态性.方法 从10例广州感染新生儿体内分离获得2株(D2、D3)临床HCMV分离株,经多重PCR鉴定后进行UL136基因全序列扩增.PCR产物纯化后进行基因克隆,构建HCMV UL136-pMD18-T重组质粒.经基因测序及应用生物信息学分析方法 ,分析其核酸序列稳定性、编码蛋白质的二级结构与特征.结果 成功分离2株HCMV临床分离株,测序结果 显示,D2、D3及与GenBank中公布的11株临床分离株(4J、51C、39J、33J、63J、22M、10J、32C、29C、27C、Toledo)中,UL136序列高度保守.同源性分析显示在UL136全基因序列1019个核苷酸中,存在30个位点变异,所有的变异均为碱基替换,无插入及缺失突变.编码蛋白的氨基酸序列也高度保守,240个氨基酸残基中,不同临床分离株氨基酸变异率为1.6%～3.7%.不同分离株的UL136蛋白中参与形成二级结构的氨基酸数目及等电点不同.进化树分析结果 显示D2和D3均属于1a群.结论 广州地区临床低传代分离株HCMV UL136基因核苷酸序列及其氨基酸序列极为保守,但仍存在一定多态性.其基因的稳定性提示HCMV UL136开放阅读框(ORF)可能是一个具有重要功能的基因.其编码后修饰位点提示UL136可能与膜受体介导的细胞信号转导通路有关.     

人巨细胞病毒UL143基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 探讨人巨细胞病毒(human eytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL143序列在临床患儿低传代分离株中的多态性及其与临床疾病的关系.方法 对19株HCMV临床低传代分离株进行HCMV-UL143 PCR扩增分析及伞序列测定分析.结果 19株HCMV感染患儿临床分离株均因碱基插入造成移码突变,开放阅读框架(ORF)比Toledo株短.根据序列变异情况可将19个序列分为2组,第1组16个序列新增一个MYRISTYL位点;缺失2个PKC磷酸化位点.未发现黄疸、小头畸形、先天性巨结肠等不同疾病类型的序列之间的差异.结论 HCMV-UL143较多存在于临床低传代分离株中,序列呈现一定多态性.     

人巨细胞病毒UL143基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 探讨人巨细胞病毒(human eytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL143序列在临床患儿低传代分离株中的多态性及其与临床疾病的关系.方法 对19株HCMV临床低传代分离株进行HCMV-UL143 PCR扩增分析及伞序列测定分析.结果 19株HCMV感染患儿临床分离株均因碱基插入造成移码突变,开放阅读框架(ORF)比Toledo株短.根据序列变异情况可将19个序列分为2组,第1组16个序列新增一个MYRISTYL位点;缺失2个PKC磷酸化位点.未发现黄疸、小头畸形、先天性巨结肠等不同疾病类型的序列之间的差异.结论 HCMV-UL143较多存在于临床低传代分离株中,序列呈现一定多态性.     

人巨细胞病毒UL143基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 探讨人巨细胞病毒(human eytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL143序列在临床患儿低传代分离株中的多态性及其与临床疾病的关系.方法 对19株HCMV临床低传代分离株进行HCMV-UL143 PCR扩增分析及伞序列测定分析.结果 19株HCMV感染患儿临床分离株均因碱基插入造成移码突变,开放阅读框架(ORF)比Toledo株短.根据序列变异情况可将19个序列分为2组,第1组16个序列新增一个MYRISTYL位点;缺失2个PKC磷酸化位点.未发现黄疸、小头畸形、先天性巨结肠等不同疾病类型的序列之间的差异.结论 HCMV-UL143较多存在于临床低传代分离株中,序列呈现一定多态性.     

人巨细胞病毒UL143基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 探讨人巨细胞病毒(human eytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL143序列在临床患儿低传代分离株中的多态性及其与临床疾病的关系.方法 对19株HCMV临床低传代分离株进行HCMV-UL143 PCR扩增分析及伞序列测定分析.结果 19株HCMV感染患儿临床分离株均因碱基插入造成移码突变,开放阅读框架(ORF)比Toledo株短.根据序列变异情况可将19个序列分为2组,第1组16个序列新增一个MYRISTYL位点;缺失2个PKC磷酸化位点.未发现黄疸、小头畸形、先天性巨结肠等不同疾病类型的序列之间的差异.结论 HCMV-UL143较多存在于临床低传代分离株中,序列呈现一定多态性.     

人巨细胞病毒UL143基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 探讨人巨细胞病毒(human eytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL143序列在临床患儿低传代分离株中的多态性及其与临床疾病的关系.方法 对19株HCMV临床低传代分离株进行HCMV-UL143 PCR扩增分析及伞序列测定分析.结果 19株HCMV感染患儿临床分离株均因碱基插入造成移码突变,开放阅读框架(ORF)比Toledo株短.根据序列变异情况可将19个序列分为2组,第1组16个序列新增一个MYRISTYL位点;缺失2个PKC磷酸化位点.未发现黄疸、小头畸形、先天性巨结肠等不同疾病类型的序列之间的差异.结论 HCMV-UL143较多存在于临床低传代分离株中,序列呈现一定多态性.     

人巨细胞病毒UL143基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 探讨人巨细胞病毒(human eytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL143序列在临床患儿低传代分离株中的多态性及其与临床疾病的关系.方法 对19株HCMV临床低传代分离株进行HCMV-UL143 PCR扩增分析及伞序列测定分析.结果 19株HCMV感染患儿临床分离株均因碱基插入造成移码突变,开放阅读框架(ORF)比Toledo株短.根据序列变异情况可将19个序列分为2组,第1组16个序列新增一个MYRISTYL位点;缺失2个PKC磷酸化位点.未发现黄疸、小头畸形、先天性巨结肠等不同疾病类型的序列之间的差异.结论 HCMV-UL143较多存在于临床低传代分离株中,序列呈现一定多态性.     

人巨细胞病毒UL143基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 探讨人巨细胞病毒(human eytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL143序列在临床患儿低传代分离株中的多态性及其与临床疾病的关系.方法 对19株HCMV临床低传代分离株进行HCMV-UL143 PCR扩增分析及伞序列测定分析.结果 19株HCMV感染患儿临床分离株均因碱基插入造成移码突变,开放阅读框架(ORF)比Toledo株短.根据序列变异情况可将19个序列分为2组,第1组16个序列新增一个MYRISTYL位点;缺失2个PKC磷酸化位点.未发现黄疸、小头畸形、先天性巨结肠等不同疾病类型的序列之间的差异.结论 HCMV-UL143较多存在于临床低传代分离株中,序列呈现一定多态性.