title: Human cytomegalovirus a sequence and UL144 variability in strains from infected children.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) displays genetic polymorphisms. This variability may contribute to strain-specific tissue tropism and disease expression in HCMV-infected humans. To determine strain variability in a sequence and UL144 gene regions, 51 low-passage isolates from 44 HCMV-infected children were studied. Isolates were obtained from 28 healthy children attending child care centers in Iowa and from 16 congenitally infected infants born in Texas. Isolates demonstrated substantial nucleotide variation in each gene region. Phylogenetic analysis of a sequence variability allowed 39 isolates to be grouped into six clades. The largest clade contained 16 isolates with > or = 95% nucleotide homology. Forty-eight of the 49 HCMV isolates yielding UL144 amplicons was grouped according to the clades described a few years ago [Lurain et al. (1999) Journal of Virology 73:10040-10050]. No linkage was observed among a sequence, UL144, and glycoprotein B (gB; UL55) polymorphisms. Four Texas and 11 Iowa isolates displayed > or = 95% sequence homology for a sequence and UL144 regions and possessed identical gB genotypes. No relationship between UL144 polymorphisms and outcome of congenital HCMV infection was observed. These data indicate that HCMV strains circulating among young children have UL144 polymorphisms similar to those of HCMV strains excreted by immunocompromised adults. Identification of conserved nucleotide sequences among Iowa and Texas children suggests genetic stability and biologic importance of these gene regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84113, USA. pcjbale@ihc.com
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bale
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Petheram
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Murph
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demmler
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C119624:UL144 ORF protein, Human herpesvirus 5; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C040495:glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus