Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
11:48

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses

Published on: April 4, 2019

17.4K

Molecular Evolution of the Fusion (F) Genes in Human Metapneumovirus Genotype B

Tatsuya Shirai1,2,3, Fuminori Mizukoshi4, Mitsuru Sada2

  • 1Department of Respiratory Viruses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security, Musashimurayama-shi 208-0011, Tokyo, Japan.

Microorganisms
|February 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Human metapneumovirus genotype B (HMPV-B) fusion (F) gene shows limited variation and stable antigenic features. This suggests antibody-based strategies targeting conserved regions of the F protein are promising for HMPV-B.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Evolution
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Human metapneumovirus genotype B (HMPV-B) is a significant respiratory pathogen.
  • Understanding the evolutionary and antigenic characteristics of its fusion (F) gene is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular evolution, phylodynamics, and epitope landscape of the HMPV-B F gene.
  • To assess the potential for antibody-based therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 500 HMPV-B F gene sequences (1982-2024).
  • Time-scaled phylogeny and Bayesian Skyline Plot analysis.
  • Epitope prediction for conformational B-cell binding sites.

Main Results:

  • HMPV-B sublineages B1 and B2 diverged around 1937 with distinct demographic histories.
  • The F gene evolves at 1.01 × 10⁻³ substitutions/site/year, with limited amino acid variation due to strong purifying selection.
  • Neutralizing antibody binding regions (sites Ø and I-V) are highly conserved, with substitutions unlikely to alter epitope structure.

Conclusions:

  • The HMPV-B F gene evolves under significant constraint, maintaining stable antigenic properties.
  • Conserved neutralizing antibody binding regions suggest potential for effective antibody-based interventions against HMPV-B.
Keywords:
conformational epitopesfusion genehuman metapneumovirusmolecular evolution

More Related Videos

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo12:42

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo

Published on: January 7, 2019

10.3K
Multi-target Parallel Processing Approach for Gene-to-structure Determination of the Influenza Polymerase PB2 Subunit22:10

Multi-target Parallel Processing Approach for Gene-to-structure Determination of the Influenza Polymerase PB2 Subunit

Published on: June 28, 2013

13.8K

Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
40.1K
Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
25.4K
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
15.1K
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
4.2K
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
9.3K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
8.3K