title: Nucleotide sequence comparisons of the fusion protein gene from virulent and attenuated strains of rinderpest virus.
abstract: We have cloned and sequenced the entire fusion (F) protein gene of the RBOK vaccine strain of rinderpest virus and the coding regions for the F genes of two mild field isolates of the virus from Africa. Analysis of the nucleotide and the predicted amino acid sequences showed that the vaccine virus was more than 99% identical in the protein coding region to the virulent Kabete O strain from which it was derived, whereas the field isolates differed by 10 to 12% from each other and from the vaccine strain. No changes were found in the F protein which could explain attenuation of the vaccine; however, each of the mild field isolates had amino acid changes in important functional areas which may be related to their attenuated phenotype.
authors.affiliation: AFRC Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, Woking, Surrey, U.K.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goatley
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D015723:Gene Library; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012302:Rinderpest virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000235:genetics*; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C079748:F protein, Rinderpest virus; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines