title: Antigenic and genetic variability of human metapneumoviruses.
abstract: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a member of the subfamily Pneumovirinae within the family Paramyxo- viridae. Other members of this subfamily, respiratory syncytial virus and avian pneumovirus, can be divided into subgroups on the basis of genetic or antigenic differences or both. For HMPV, the existence of different genetic lineages has been described on the basis of variation in a limited set of available sequences. We address the antigenic relationship between genetic lineages in virus neutralization assays. In addition, we analyzed the genetic diversity of HMPV by phylogenetic analysis of sequences obtained for part of the fusion protein (n = 84) and the complete attachment protein open reading frames (n = 35). On the basis of sequence diversity between attachment protein genes and the differences in virus neutralization titers, two HMPV serotypes were defined. Each serotype could be divided into two genetic lineages, but these did not reflect major antigenic differences.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bernadette G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: van den Hoogen
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herfst
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sprong
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cane
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Forleo-Neto
authors.forename: Rik L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: de Swart
authors.forename: Albert D M E
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Osterhaus
authors.forename: Ron A M
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fouchier
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015707:HN Protein / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015707:HN Protein; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C116204:attachment protein G