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Molecular typing of echovirus serotype 4 isolates
U Künkel1, S Diedrich, E Schreier
1Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Nordufer 20, D-13353, Berlin, Germany.
Virus Research
|October 13, 2001
Summary
Recent echovirus 4 (E4) strains show genetic drift from older strains, potentially impacting serological typing. This evolution in E4 variants may explain difficulties in identifying new antigenic types.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Aseptic meningitis can be caused by enteroviruses, including echovirus 4 (E4).
- Clinical samples from Stuttgart/97, Berlin/99, and Jasi/99 were associated with aseptic meningitis.
- Echovirus 4 was detected in all samples, with co-infection of echovirus 30 (E30) in the Stuttgart/97 sample.
Purpose of the Study:
- To genetically analyze echovirus 4 (E4) strains from clinical samples.
- To assess the genetic relationship between recent and older E4 strains.
- To investigate potential reasons for difficulties in serological typing of E4 variants.
Main Methods:
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for amplification.
- Direct sequencing of amplicons from the capsid protein VP1 gene.
- Sequence comparison with E4 strains from GenBank.
Main Results:
- Genetic analysis revealed that recent E4 isolates have diverged from older strains.
- Several amino acid changes were identified in putative antigenic sites of the VP1 gene.
- These changes may alter the antigenic specificity of E4 variants.
Conclusions:
- Echovirus 4 strains have evolved over time, showing genetic drift.
- Amino acid substitutions in VP1 may lead to altered antigenic properties.
- This antigenic variation could explain failures in serological typing of new E4 variants.