title: Genetic content of wild-type human cytomegalovirus.
abstract: The genetic content of wild-type human cytomegalovirus was investigated by sequencing the 235 645 bp genome of a low passage strain (Merlin). Substantial regions of the genome (genes RL1-UL11, UL105-UL112 and UL120-UL150) were also sequenced in several other strains, including two that had not been passaged in cell culture. Comparative analyses, which employed the published genome sequence of a high passage strain (AD169), indicated that Merlin accurately reflects the wild-type complement of 165 genes, containing no obvious mutations other than a single nucleotide substitution that truncates gene UL128. A sizeable subset of genes exhibits unusually high variation between strains, and comprises many, but not all, of those that encode proteins known or predicted to be secreted or membrane-associated. In contrast to unpassaged strains, all of the passaged strains analysed have visibly disabling mutations in one or both of two groups of genes that may influence cell tropism. One comprises UL128, UL130 and UL131A, which putatively encode secreted proteins, and the other contains RL5A, RL13 and UL9, which are members of the RL11 glycoprotein gene family. The case in support of a lack of protein-coding potential in the region between UL105 and UL111A was also strengthened.
authors.affiliation: MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.
authors.forename: Aidan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.affiliation: MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.
authors.forename: Ralph D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hector
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK.
authors.forename: Aycan F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Hassan-Walker
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Addison
authors.affiliation: MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.
authors.forename: Derrick J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dargan
authors.affiliation: MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.
authors.forename: Duncan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McGeoch
authors.affiliation: MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gatherer
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK.
authors.forename: Vincent C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, UK.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Virologie und Epidemiologie der Viruskrankheiten, Universität Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sinzger
authors.affiliation: Section of Infection and Immunity, University of Wales College of Medicine, Tenovus Building, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XX, UK.
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: McSharry
authors.affiliation: Section of Infection and Immunity, University of Wales College of Medicine, Tenovus Building, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XX, UK.
authors.forename: Gavin W G
authors.initials: GWG
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.affiliation: MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church Street, Glasgow G11 5JR, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Davison
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000235:genetics; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D014764:Viral Proteins; C121017:viral chemokine CXC-1, Cytomegalovirus