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Human metapneumovirus G protein is highly conserved within but not between genetic lineages

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Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an important cause of acute respiratory illnesses in children. HMPV encodes two major surface glycoproteins, fusion (F) and glycoprotein (G). The function of G has not been fully established, though it is dispensable for in vitro and in vivo replication. We analyzed 87 full-length HMPV G sequences from isolates collected over 20 years. The G sequences fell into four subgroups with a mean 63 % amino acid identity (minimum 29 %). The length of G varied from 217 to 241 residues. Structural features such as proline content and N- and O-glycosylation sites were present in all strains but quite variable between subgroups. There was minimal drift within the subgroups over 20 years. The estimated time to the most recent common ancestor was 215 years. HMPV G was conserved within lineages over 20 years, suggesting functional constraints on diversity. However, G was poorly conserved between subgroups, pointing to potentially distinct roles for G among different viral lineages.

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Acknowledgments

Supported by NIH AI-82417 and AI-85062 to JVW. The Vanderbilt Vaccine Clinic was supported in part by NIH Respiratory Pathogens Research Unit N01-AI-65298 and by NIH GCRC center award RR 00095.

Conflict of interest

Chiaoyin K. Wang, Chin-Fen Yang, Linda D. Lintao, Alexis Liem, and Marla Chu were employees of MedImmune at the time of this study. John Williams serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Quidel.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, D-7235 Medical Center North, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232-2581, USA

    Sharon J. Tollefson & John V. Williams

  2. Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    John V. Williams

  3. MedImmune Vaccines, LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA

    Chin-Fen Yang, Chiaoyin K. Wang, Linda D. Lintao, Alexis Liem & Marla Chu

Authors
  1. Chin-Fen Yang
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Correspondence to John V. Williams.

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Yang, CF., Wang, C.K., Tollefson, S.J. et al. Human metapneumovirus G protein is highly conserved within but not between genetic lineages. Arch Virol 158, 1245–1252 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-013-1622-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-013-1622-x

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