title: Analysis of human cytomegalovirus UL144 variability in low-passage clinical isolates in Japan.
abstract: To explore a possible role for viral genes as determinants of virulence, portions of the UL144 tumor necrosis factor-like receptor gene and the UL55 envelope glycoprotein B gene from 42 patients with congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection or other diseases were sequenced. Of the 42 patients, 16 (38%) had UL144 group 1 [group 1A, 15 of 16 (94%); group 1B, 1 of 16 (6%); group 1C, 0 of 16 (0%)], 5 patients (12%) had UL144 group 2, and 21 patients (50%) had UL144 group 3. Although group 1C was not found in Japan strains (0%), it was found in USA strains (22%). Other HCMV polymorphisms should be further evaluated for their potential relevance to neonatal infection, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated HCMV diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Persistent and Oncogenic Viruses, Center for Chronic Viral Disease, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan. t-mura@m3.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tsugiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takegoshi
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanuma
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eizuru
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry; D005814:Genes, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C119624:UL144 ORF protein, Human herpesvirus 5; D014764:Viral Proteins