title: Evolution of subgroup A respiratory syncytial virus: evidence for progressive accumulation of amino acid changes in the attachment protein.
abstract: The variability of the attachment (G) proteins of 48 subgroup A isolates of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolated over 38 years has been examined. Nucleotide sequences of two variable regions of the G protein genes were determined following amplification by PCR. The isolates showed temporal rather than geographical clustering, and there was evidence for progressive accumulation of amino acid changes at an average rate of approximately 0.25% per year estimated over the entire protein. The cocirculation of lineages of RSV at present appears to be the result of a process of evolution and survival of particular genotypes and the extinction of others. Analysis of reactivity of the isolates with monoclonal antibodies showed that their antigenic profiles closely paralleled their relatedness by nucleotide sequence, suggesting that antigenic drift due to immune selection may be occurring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cane
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pringle
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins