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Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
Published on: June 16, 2011
Genetic characterization of a human isolate of Puumala hantavirus from France
M D Bowen1, H Kariwa, P E Rollin
1Special Pathogens Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Abstract:
PUU90-13 is a strain of Puumala (PUU) virus (family Bunyaviridae: genus Hantavirus) isolated from a human in northeastern France (Rollin et al., 1995). This report describes the full-length sequences of the small (S) and medium (M) genomic RNAs of PUU90-13. The terminal sequences of both the S and M genomic RNAs were found to be conserved and imperfectly complementary. The S RNA of PUU90-13 is 1847 nt in length and contains the nucleocapsid (N) protein gene and a potential overlapping open reading frame (ORF-2) previously described in other hantaviruses. Statistical analysis of the third base substitution frequency in the N ORFs of PUU90-13 and other PUU viruses suggests that the ORF-2 is functional. The M RNA is 3681 nt in length and encodes the glycoprotein precursor. Both genomic segments share the highest degree of nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity with PUUBerkel, a PUU virus from Germany. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences from both segments indicate that PUU90-13 occupies a distinct Western European PUU virus lineage that it shares with PUUBerkel. Both PUU90-13 and PUUBerkel lack a potential N-linked glycosylation site found on the G2 glycoprotein of other PUU viruses.
Insights
Researchers sequenced the Puumala (PUU) virus strain PUU90-13 from France, revealing its genetic makeup and evolutionary relationships. This analysis identified a distinct Western European lineage for this hantavirus.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Puumala (PUU) virus, a hantavirus, is a significant human pathogen.
- Understanding hantavirus genomics is crucial for epidemiology and disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the full-length sequences of the small (S) and medium (M) genomic RNAs of the PUU90-13 strain.
- To analyze the genetic relatedness and phylogenetic position of PUU90-13 within the hantavirus genus.
Main Methods:
- Full-length sequencing of S and M genomic RNAs.
- Bioinformatic analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences.
- Phylogenetic analysis using established hantavirus sequence data.
Main Results:
- The S RNA (1847 nt) contains the nucleocapsid (N) protein gene and a potential functional overlapping open reading frame (ORF-2).
- The M RNA (3681 nt) encodes the glycoprotein precursor.
- PUU90-13 shares highest sequence identity with PUUBerkel (Germany), forming a distinct Western European PUU virus lineage.
- Both PUU90-13 and PUUBerkel lack a specific N-linked glycosylation site on the G2 glycoprotein found in other PUU viruses.
Conclusions:
- The genetic characterization of PUU90-13 provides insights into hantavirus evolution in Europe.
- The identified Western European lineage highlights regional genetic diversity within Puumala virus.
- The functional ORF-2 and glycosylation site variations may have implications for viral pathogenesis and host interaction.
