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Sequence variation within the carboxyl terminus of the nucleoprotein gene of mumps virus strains

Y S Boriskin1, J C Booth, A Yamada

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.

Clinical and Diagnostic Virology
|April 1, 1994
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Nucleoprotein (NP) gene sequencing can differentiate between mumps virus vaccine and wild-type strains. This study analyzed the carboxyl terminus of the NP gene to identify distinct patterns for strain identification.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Mumps virus infection and meningitis can rarely be caused by both vaccine and wild-type strains.
  • Previous studies utilized nucleotide sequencing of limited viral genome regions to identify strain differences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To confirm and extend previous findings on mumps virus strain differentiation.
  • To investigate strain variations in the highly variable carboxyl terminus of the nucleoprotein (NP) gene.

Main Methods:

  • Amplification of a 576 bp carboxyterminal fragment of the NP gene using reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR.
  • Direct sequencing of the amplified NP gene fragments.
  • Analysis of sequence variations to differentiate between mumps virus strains.

Main Results:

  • Three Urabe vaccine variants and five clinical isolates showed identical carboxyterminal NP patterns.
  • Three other isolates and the Leningrad-3 vaccine strain exhibited sequence differences up to 5% compared to Urabe strains.
  • U/C substitutions were the predominant variations observed between strains.

Conclusions:

  • The carboxyterminal sequence of the NP gene demonstrates significant variation among mumps virus strains.
  • This sequence variability is a reliable marker for differentiating between vaccine and wild-type mumps virus isolates.

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