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Molecular biological characterization of enterovirus variant isolated from patients with aseptic meningitis
1Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul.
Abstract:
In Korea, there was a big outbreak of aseptic meningitis in 1993. Six clinical isolates of enterovirus were obtained from patients with aseptic meningitis and were identified as echovirus type 9 by serotyping with a pool of neutralizing antisera. For molecular characterization of the isolates, the nucleotide sequences of 5'-noncoding region (NCR), VP4, VP2, VP1, 2A and 2C regions of the isolates were compared with the corresponding regions of echovirus type 9 Hill and Barty strains. Unlike Hill strain, Barty strain contained a C-terminal extension to the capsid protein VP1 with an RGD (argnine-glycine-aspartic acid) motif. To determine whether similar structural features were present in our isolates, their nucleotide sequences including the VP1 region were analyzed. All isolates exhibited the VP1 extension with the RGD motif. We concluded the Korean isolates in the year of 1993 as the echovirus type 9 Barty strain although the isolates showed 15-20% nucleotide sequence differences in the several genomic regions.
Insights
In 1993, Korean aseptic meningitis cases were linked to echovirus type 9. Molecular analysis confirmed these isolates as the Barty strain, despite genetic variations, due to a specific VP1 protein feature.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Aseptic meningitis outbreaks can be caused by enteroviruses.
- Enterovirus type 9 (EV-9) is a known pathogen associated with meningitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize enterovirus isolates from a 1993 Korean aseptic meningitis outbreak.
- To determine the specific strain of echovirus type 9 responsible for the outbreak.
Main Methods:
- Serotyping of clinical isolates using neutralizing antisera.
- Molecular characterization through nucleotide sequencing of key viral regions (5'-NCR, VP4, VP2, VP1, 2A, 2C).
- Comparison of isolate sequences with reference echovirus type 9 strains (Hill and Barty).
Main Results:
- Six clinical isolates were identified as echovirus type 9.
- All Korean isolates possessed a C-terminal extension in the VP1 protein, including an RGD motif, characteristic of the Barty strain.
- Significant nucleotide sequence differences (15-20%) were observed in several genomic regions compared to reference strains.
Conclusions:
- The 1993 Korean aseptic meningitis outbreak was caused by echovirus type 9 Barty strain.
- The presence of the VP1 extension with the RGD motif is a defining feature for classifying these isolates.
- Observed genetic variations highlight the adaptability and diversity within echovirus type 9 strains.