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Updated: May 18, 2026
Dissecting Host-virus Interaction in Lytic Replication of a Model Herpesvirus
Published on: October 7, 2011
Partial genome analysis of murine gammaherpesvirus 4556
M Kúdelová1, Z Halásová, P Belvončíková
1Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9,845 05 Bratislava 4, Slovak Republic. virukude@savba.sk
Unlabelled:
Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) -infected mouse is an animal model of gammaherpesvirus infection in man and domestic animals. Murine gammaherpesvirus 4556 (MHV-4556), isolated from Apodemus flavicollis ticks has been considered a close relative of MHV-68 but different in some features of infection in vitro and in vivo. Previous comparison of MHV-4556 with MHV-68 has revealed their diversity in immune evasion protein MK3. In this study, HindIII and EcoRI restriction profiles of the MHV-4556 genome disclosed absence of the deletion that has been identified previously at the left end of genomes of murine gammaherpesvirus 76 (MHV-76) and murine gammaherpesvirus Šumava (MHV-Šumava). A 22, 565 bp portion of MHV-4556 genome sequence was sequenced, analyzed and compared with that of MHV-68. Nucleotide sequences of 21 genes of MHV-4556 and deduced amino acid sequences revealed their identity to those of MHV-68 except for differences in 15 nucleotides and 8 amino acids in 5 genes and their proteins, respectively. Due to these differences, immune evasion protein M4 and structural proteins encoded by ORF8 (gB), ORF11 (p43), ORF26 and ORF52, respectively, are predicted to have a reduced hydrophilicity and surface exposure compard with their MHV-68 counterparts. These differences obviously contribute to some different pathogenetical features of these viruses and could explain the weaker immunogenicity of MHV-4556 in comparison with MHV-68.
Keywords:
murine gammaherpesvirus 4556; restriction analysis; partial genome sequence.
Insights
Murine gammaherpesvirus 4556 (MHV-4556) shares genetic similarities with MHV-68 but exhibits distinct protein features. These differences in MHV-4556 may explain its weaker immunogenicity compared to MHV-68.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) is a key animal model for gammaherpesvirus infections.
- Murine gammaherpesvirus 4556 (MHV-4556), found in ticks, is a relative of MHV-68 with differing infection characteristics.
- Previous studies noted variations in the immune evasion protein MK3 between MHV-4556 and MHV-68.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the genome sequence of MHV-4556 with MHV-68.
- To identify genetic differences and their potential impact on viral proteins and immunogenicity.
Main Methods:
- Restriction analysis of the MHV-4556 genome using HindIII and EcoRI.
- Sequencing and analysis of a 22,565 bp portion of the MHV-4556 genome.
- Comparison of nucleotide and amino acid sequences with MHV-68.
Main Results:
- MHV-4556 genome lacks the deletion found in MHV-76 and MHV-Šumava.
- Nucleotide sequences of 21 genes are identical to MHV-68, with 15 nucleotide and 8 amino acid differences in 5 genes.
- Immune evasion protein M4 and structural proteins (ORF8, ORF11, ORF26, ORF52) show reduced hydrophilicity and surface exposure in MHV-4556 compared to MHV-68.
Conclusions:
- MHV-4556 and MHV-68 exhibit genetic variations, particularly in key viral proteins.
- These protein differences in MHV-4556 likely contribute to its distinct pathogenicity and weaker immunogenicity compared to MHV-68.
