Structure and variability of the UL149 open reading frame from low-passage clinical isolates of human cytomegalovirus

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a ubiquitous herpesvirus, causes a lifelong subclinical infection in healthy adults but leads to significant morbidity and mortality in neonates and immunocompromised individuals. A region (referred to as UL/b') present in the Toledo strain of HCMV and low passage clinical isolates contains 19 additional genes, which are absent in the highly passage laboratory strain AD169. One of these genes, UL149 open reading frame, was amplified by PCR and sequenced from isolates obtained from infants with congenital HCMV infection, to determine whether genetic variation of this gene could influence the signs of the virus infection. The major finding is that the UL149 is a variable gene in all 26 clinical isolates, and the sequences from clinical isolates were classified into three major groups. It is concluded that the HCMV UL149 sequence is variable at the nucleotide level and it might play an important role in HCMV infection.     

Nucleotide Sequence of Glycoprotein Genes B,C, D,G, H and I,the Thymidine Kinase and Protein Kinase Genes and Gene Homologue UL24 of an Australian Isolate of Canine Herpesvirus

We report the complete nucleotide (nt) sequence of nine genes of an Australian isolate of canine herpesvirus (CHV). Four of them are located in the unique short (US) region: glycoprotein (g) genes gG, gD and gI, and the protein kinase gene. Five are in the unique long (UL) region: the thymidine kinase gene, gB, gC, gH, and gene homologue UL24. Partial sequence was determined for four genes, two in the UL region (UL21 and virion protein) and two in the US region (US2 and gE). A repeat sequence of 382 nt with unknown function was identified in the 615 nt intergenic region between gH and UL21. A total of 16.93 kb was sequenced and compared with sequences from CHV isolates from the USA, France, Japan and Australia. Only minor nt and/or amino acid (aa) differences were observed.     

人巨细胞病毒UL136基因在临床低传代分离株中多态性分析

目的 研究人巨细胞病毒(human cytomegalovirus，HCMV)UL136基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性，探讨其多态性与HCMV先天性感染不同致病性之间的关系。方法 对48株经荧光定量PCR方法检测HCMV DNA为阳性的临床低传代分离株进行HCMV ULl36全序列PCR扩增，对于扩增阳性的12株PCR产物进行ULl36基因全序列测定及结果分析。结果 48株临床低传代分离株ULl36 PCR扩增，12株阳性，阳性率25％，以HCMV Toledo株作为参考株，进行序列比较分析表明，12株临床分离株ULl36开放阅读框架(open reading frame，ORF)长度均与Toledo株相同，为723bp，编码241个氨基酸的蛋白。DNA序列变异均为碱基替换，不同临床分离株ULl36基因与Toledo株进行同源性比较，结果在核苷酸水平为97．7％～99．3％，氨基酸水平为96．6％～99．1％。ULl36编码蛋白的氨基酸变异率为0．83％～3．3％。二级结构预测分为两种构象。大多数HCMV ULl36蛋白翻译后修饰位点在所有分离株中均高度保守，仅几个位点在一些分离株中存在缺失或新增。Toledo株及12株临床分离株核苷酸及氨基酸序列系统进化树分析表明：45J最接近Toledo株。结论 12株临床低传代分离株HCMV ULl36基因DNA及其编码产物的氨基酸序列比较保守，但仍存在一定多态性。未发现不同临床分离株ULl36基因多态性与HCMV先天性感染的表现关系。     

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.     

Cloning and sequencing of truncated gIV glycoprotein gene of an Indian isolate of bovine herpesvirus 1

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) has been reported from the Indian subcontinent in late 70's. In order to identify the origin of an Indian isolate of BHV-1 (IBR/H 167 VS) and its molecular relationship to known strains of BHV-1, a 680 bp region of the glycoprotein gene gIV was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloned and sequenced. Comparison of this sequences with the corresponding one of an European strain of BHV-1 (Cooper) revealed more than 99% nucleotide (nt) homology. We conclude that the Indian isolate under study does not differ from the Cooper strain regarding the gIV gene.     

广州地区HCMV低传代临床病毒株UL143基因的多态性研究

目的研究广州地区人巨细胞病毒（HCMV）临床低传代分离株UL143基因的多态性。方法对3株经多重PCR鉴定的HCMV临床低传代分离株进行HCMV UL143基因全序列扩增，扩增产物克隆到pMD18-T载体上测序，并将其序列与GenBank中公布的其它临床分离株UL143基因一起进行分析。结果D3株UL143基因因碱基缺失形成多处终止密码无法产生有功能的蛋白；Toledo株UL143基因开放读码框由279个核苷酸组成．编码蛋白由92个氨基酸残基组成：其它临床分离株UL143基因开放读码框均由252个核苷酸组成。DNA序列比较保守，变异均为碱基替换。编码蛋白由83个氨基酸残基组成，氨基酸序列也很保守，不同临床分离株氨基酸变异率为1．2％-2．4％：HCMV UL143蛋白翻译后修饰位点在除Toledo株之外的所有分离株中均高度保守．没有缺失或新增；不同临床分离株UL143蛋白二级结构有所不同；除Toledo株外，其余分离株UL143蛋白的等电点均为8．75。结论临床低传代分离株HCMV UL143基因DNA及其编码产物的氨基酸序列极为保守。但仍存在一定多态性。     

人巨细胞病毒UL148基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 研究人巨细胞病毒(HCMV)UL148序列在临床低传代分离株中的多态性。方法 对38株经荧光定量PCR方法(Q-PCR)检测HCMV-DNA为阳性的临床低传代分离株的细胞培养上清液进行HCMV UL148全序列PCR扩增，并对PCR扩增产物进行序列测定及分析。结果 38株临床低传代分离株有17株PCR扩增阳性，与HCMV Toledo株进行序列比较分析，17株临床分离株ULl48开放阅读框架(ORF)长度均与Toledo株相同。其编码蛋白的氨基酸变异率为0．3％～2．3％。所有分离株均有蛋白翻译后修饰位点的新增或缺失。与Toledo株相比17株临床分离株UL148蛋白质二级结构预测结果均为第15～18位之间由α-螺旋变为β-折叠。结论 17株HCMV临床低传代分离株UL148基因及其编码产物的氨基酸序列比较保守，但仍存在一定程度的多态性。     

人巨细胞病毒UL150基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的 研究人巨细胞病毒(human cytomegalovirns,HCMV)UL150序列在临床低传代分离株中的多态性,探讨HCMV基因多态性与其感染引起不同临床症状之间的关系.方法 对29株经荧光定量PCR方法(Q-PCR)检测HCMV-DNA为阳性的临床低传代分离株进行HCMV UL150全序列PCR扩增,并对PCR扩增产物进行序列测定及分析.结果在29株临床低传代分离株中25株PCR扩增阳性.其中18株完成了测序.18株临床分离株HCMV UL150开放阅读框架(open reading frame,ORF)与HCMV Toledo株相应序列进行比较分析,显示18株低传代临床分离株的HCMV UL150 ORF均为1920bp,编码蛋白含有640个氨基酸,临床株的ORF及编码的氨基酸序列的长度均与Merlin株一致.结论 HCMV UL150基因在临床分离株中存在着高度的多态性,未发现其与HCMV感染不同临床症状间存在明显的关系.     

An attempt to develop a detection method specific for virulent duck plague virus strains based on the UL2 gene B fragment

A comparison of the unique long region 2 (UL2) gene sequences between 10 virulent and 11 attenuated duck plague virus (DPV) strains (including all DPV UL2 gene sequences registered in GenBank) showed that the UL2 genes in the attenuated DPV strains had a 528?bp deletion in the B fragment. Primers were designed based on the B fragment sequence of the UL2 gene in an attempt to establish a fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a conventional PCR detection method that could specifically detect virulent DPV strains (i.e. positive detection for virulent DPV strains and negative detection for attenuated DPV strains). Additionally, PCR products were cloned for sequence analysis. These two methods detected five attenuated DPV strains in addition to the virulent DPV strains. Sequence analysis of the PCR products showed that the amplified products were the B fragments of the UL2 gene. These results indicated that detection methods specific for virulent DPV strains could not be established using primers designed based on the UL2 gene B fragment.     

人巨细胞病毒UL149基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性研究

目的研究人巨细胞病毒(humancytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL149序列在临床低传代分离株中的多态性,探讨HCMV基因多态性与其感染引起不同临床症状之间的关系。方法对29株经荧光定量PCR方法(QPCR)检测HCMVDNA为阳性的临床低传代分离株的细胞培养上清液进行HCMVUL149全序列PCR扩增,并对PCR扩增产物进行序列测定及分析。结果29株临床低传代分离株有26株PCR扩增阳性,与HCMVToledo株进行序列比较分析,26株临床分离株UL149开放阅读框架(openreadingframe,ORF)之间存在着高度的多态性,种系进化树分析结果显示26个序列可分为3个型,黄疸患儿分布以G1型为主;小头畸形以G3型为主;巨结肠仅见于G1、G2型,G3型未见。部分临床分离株存在CKP位点的缺失及TKP位点增加。结论HCMVUL149基因在临床分离株中存在着高度的多态性。来自不同临床症状分离株的UL149基因及其编码蛋白具有一定的结构特点,并与基因型呈一定的相关性。     

Clustering of mutations within the inverted repeat regions of a serially passaged attenuated gallid herpesvirus type 2 strain

Marek's disease (MD) is the leading cause of losses in chicken production in the world. Over the past 40 years significant progress has been made in the control of MD through the use of vaccines which reduce or delay tumor formation in vaccinated flocks. However, these vaccines fail to induce an immune response that protects against infection and virus shedding. Little is known about the genetic changes that lead to attenuation and are necessary for the generation of vaccine strains. Previous research has demonstrated that serial passage of virulent strains in cell culture results in the generation of attenuated progeny. Obtaining detailed knowledge of the changes which are needed for attenuation will be important for advancing our understanding of MD biology and should facilitate the development of more potent vaccines. We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) construct representing the 80th passage of a very virulent plus (vv+) MD virus strain termed 584A. Pathotyping studies have indicated that this strain (584Ap80) is indeed attenuated. Bioinformatic analysis of the sequencing data has identified numerous gross genetic changes clustering in the inverted repeat regions of the genome, as well as subtle changes (single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs) scattered throughout the genome. Relative to the parental strain (584Ap9), insertional mutations were identified in the MD-specific genes encoding RLORF1, RLORF3, RLORF6, 23 kDa, RLORF7 (Meq), vIL8, vLip, RSORF1, and five uncharacterized novel genes. Deletions were found in four locations within the 584Ap80 genome. A large deletion (297nt) was found in the diploid genes 85.6/98.6 and a 321 nt deletion within the intergenic region between the U(L)3 and U(L)3.5 genes is predicted to create a fusion polypeptide. A single nucleotide deletion was identified within the origin of replication. Both insertions and deletions were found in the dipoid genes MDV3.4/78.3 encoding the virulence factor RLORF4. The sequencing of the attenuated strain 584Ap80 and comparison to that of the virulent parent 584A passage 9 (584Ap9) has provided a wealth of information regarding genetic changes which have occurred during the attenuation process.     

Determination of the coding capacity of the BamHI DNA fragment B of apathogenic Herpes simplex virus type 1 strain HFEM by DNA nucleotide sequence analysis.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strain HFEM acquired an apathogenic phenotype due to a deletion within the DNA sequences of the BamHI DNA fragment B of the viral genome. In order to investigate the coding strategy of this particular region of the genome of HSV-1 strain HFEM the DNA nucleotide sequence of the BamHI DNA fragment B was determined. This analysis revealed that the BamHI DNA fragment B of HSV-1 strain HFEM comprises 6593 bp, corresponding to the nucleotide positions (np) 113322 to 117088 and np 120643 to 123465 of the genome of HSV-1 strain 17. According to these data the deletion of the genome of HSV-1 strain HFEM occurred between the np 117089 and 120642. The promoter region of the UL56 gene of HSV-1 strain HFEM is a part of the deleted DNA sequences. Therefore, this gene of HSV-1 strain HFEM is affected and cannot be expressed. The first 35 amino acid (AA) residues of the deduced amino acid sequence of the UL56 open reading frame (ORF) were found to be identical to the amino acid sequence of the UL56 genes of HSV-1 strains 17 and F. However, due to a deletion at np 3494 of the BamHI DNA fragment B of HSV-1 strain HFEM the amino acid composition of the predicted UL56 gene of HSV-1 strain HFEM is different from HSV-1 strain 17 between amino acid positions 36 and 233. In addition the deduced amino acid sequence of the IRL (inverted repeat of the long segment) copy of the IE110 gene of HSV-1 strain HFEM was found to be about 342 amino acids shorter than the amino acid sequence of IE110 gene of HSV-1 strain 17 (775 AA). This was based on a point mutation which was detected within the DNA sequences of Exon 3 of this copy of IE110 gene of HSV-1 strain HFEM.     

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.     

人巨细胞病毒临床分离株UL131A-128mRNA转录方式的研究

目的 研究人巨细胞病毒（ human cytomegalovirns,HCMV） UL131 A-128序列在临床低传代分离株中的转录方式.方法 用3＇RACE技术扩增HCMV不同临床株,不同时期的UL131A,UL128,UL130的mRNAs并测序分析;利用PCR技术在HCMV临床株cDNA文库中筛选分别含有UL13IA,UL130,UL128序列的阳性克隆,测序并分析结果.结果 成功在临床低传代分离株中得到UL13IA,UL128,UL130基因的转录结构,UL131A,UL130的转录方式和文献报道一致,UL131A含有两个外显子,UL130为此区域内唯一不含内含子的基因.而UL128基因的转录本呈现了两种转录方式,一种结构包含三个外显子,长度为519 bp;而另一种结构包含三个外显子和第一内含子结构,长度为642 bp,在不同病毒株的不同时期均显示了包含第一内含子结构转录本的含量明显高于仅有外显子结构的UL128转录本的含量.UL131A-128三个基因在病毒的即刻早期,早期,晚期均存在.3＇RACE得到结果与HCMV cDNA文库筛选得到的结果相一致.结论 UL131A,UL130和UL128基因的mRNA结构的起始位点不同,但他们在3’末端拥有共同的终止位点.HCMV临床株UL 131A-128基因转录方式的复杂结构可能在HCMV感染的不同时期具有重要作用.     

Glycoprotein gene truncation in avian metapneumovirus subtype C isolates from the United States

The length of the published glycoprotein (G) gene sequences of avian metapneumovirus subtype-C (aMPV-C) isolated from domestic turkeys and wild birds in the United States (1996-2003) remains controversial. To explore the G gene size variation in aMPV-C by the year of isolation and cell culture passage levels, we examined 21 turkey isolates of aMPV-C at different cell culture passages. The early domestic turkey isolates of aMPV-C (aMPV/CO/1996, aMPV/MN/1a-b, and 2a-b/97) had a G gene of 1,798 nucleotides (nt) that coded for a predicted protein of 585 amino acids (aa) and showed >97% nt similarity with that of aMPV-C isolated from Canada geese. This large G gene got truncated upon serial passages in Vero cell cultures by deletion of 1,015 nt near the end of the open reading frame. The recent domestic turkey isolates of aMPV-C lacked the large G gene but instead had a small G gene of 783 nt, irrespective of cell culture passage levels. In some cultures, both large and small genes were detected, indicating the existence of a mixed population of the virus. Apparently, serial passage of aMPV-C in cell cultures and natural passage in turkeys in the field led to truncation of the G gene, which may be a mechanism of virus evolution for survival in a new host or environment.     

HMA-SSCP方法研究人类巨细胞病毒UL144基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性

目的 探讨人类巨细胞病毒（HCMV）UL144序列在临床患儿低传代分离株中的多态性及与临床疾病的关系。方法 对65株HCMV临床低传代分离株及7例同年龄组HCMV，DNA定量PCR方法检测阳性无症状感染儿尿液进行HCMV-ULl44 PCR扩增及HMA-SSCP分析，并对其中32份阳性标本进行测序。结果 65株分离株中有55株UL144全序列引物PCR扩增阳性，7份QPCR检测HCMV—DNA阳性无症状感染儿尿液中5份UL144全序列引物PCR扩增阳性。60份UL144扩增阳性标本HMA-SSCP（异源双链泳动及单链构象多态分析）呈现3种典型带形，巨结肠患儿分离株序列、小头畸形患儿的序列分布以1型为主，巨结肠患儿分离株序列没有2型，黄疽患儿以3型为主。结论 HCMV-UL144广泛存在于临床低传代分离株中，用HMA-SSCP检测HCMV-UL144基因在临床低传代分离株中的多态性是一种可行的方法。HCMV不同疾病类型的HCMV-UL144序列不同，提示UL144基因可能对HCMV致病性起一定作用。     

人巨细胞病毒UL132基因在先天感染患儿临床株中的变异研究

目的研究人巨细胞病毒(human cytomegalovirus,HCMV)UL132基因序列在先天性感染患儿中的多态性,探讨HCMV基因多态性与其感染引起不同临床症状的关系。方法对30株经荧光定量PCR方法(Q-PCR)检测HCMV DNA为阳性的临床株进行HCMV UL132全序列PCR扩增,并对PCR扩增产物进行序列测定及分析。结果30株HCMV临床株的测序结果与HCMV Toledo株进行序列比较分析显示,临床株UL132开放阅读框架(open reading frame,ORF)间存在着高度的多态性,基因变异主要集中在ULl32 ORF的5’端。30株HCMV临床株种系进化树分析结果显示,UL132序列可分为3个基因型,黄疸患儿分布以G1型为主;神经损伤患儿以G2型为主;巨结肠患儿分别见于G1、G2、G3 3个基因型。所有临床株的ULl32编码蛋白是疏水性蛋白,含有信号肽及跨膜蛋白区域,并在信号肽和跨膜蛋白区域之间存在2个保守的N-糖基化位点。结论HCMV UL132基因在临床株中存在着高度的多态性。来自不同临床症状的HCMV UL132基因及其编码蛋白具有一定的结构特点,提示观132基因及其所编码的蛋白在HCMV的致病性上可能起重要作用。     

Sequence analysis of the bovine herpesvirus type 1 genes homologous to the DNA polymerase (UL30), the major DNA-binding protein (UL29) and ICP18.5 assembly protein (UL28) genes of herpes simplex virus

Summary. The nucleotide sequence of a 10.5 kb region (map position 0.332 to 0.410) of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) was determined. This region contained three open reading frames (ORFs) homologous to herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase catalytic subunit (DNApol, UL30), major DNA-binding protein (MDBP, UL29) and ICP18.5 assembly protein (ICP18.5, UL28). The BHV-1 DNApol, MDBP and ICP18.5 ORFs were 1 246, 1 203 and 826 amino acids long with a calculated molecular mass of 134.2 kDa, 124.4 kDa and 86.9 kDa, respectively. They showed a high homology with alphaherpesvirus homologs despite large differences in the G+C content of the UL30-UL28 segment ranging from 44.4% for varicella zoster virus to 71.5% for BHV-1. Particularly well conserved among Alphaherpesvirinae are the putative functional domains of the DNApol and MDBP proteins which are discussed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that BHV-1 clustered in the Varicellovirus genus with the animal D-type viruses. In this group, the BHV-1 position was shown to vary according to the investigated genes. Indeed, pseudorabies virus clustered with BHV-1 in the DNApol tree but with equine herpesvirus 1 in the ICP18.5 tree. Received May 16, 1996 Accepted August 8, 1996