title: Inter- and intra-variant genetic heterogeneity of human coronavirus OC43 strains in France.
abstract: Human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) causes acute, self-limited respiratory infections. A close relationship between bovine coronaviruses (BCoVs) and HCoV-OC43 has recently been demonstrated. This study includes seven clinical, non-cell culture-adapted, contemporary HCoV-OC43 strains detected in France in 2003. By using RT-PCR and clonal sequencing of the S1 gene of HCoV-OC43, the inter-variant heterogeneity of the HCoV-OC43 circulating strains was studied and the intra-variant diversity was assessed by investigation of a quasispecies cloud. This paper brings to the forefront a high genetic diversity of circulating HCoV-OC43 variants. Genetically different groups are defined among the variants described in this study. One of these variants holds characteristics of an outlier and presents a deletion of 12 nt, also found in BCoV strains. Moreover, the presence of HCoV-OC43 as a quasispecies cloud in vivo during an acute respiratory-tract illness was discovered. It has also been revealed that quasispecies-cloud sizes are similar for the two viral populations tested.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, University Hospital of Caen, Avenue Georges Clemenceau, 14033 Caen cedex, France.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vabret
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, University Hospital of Caen, Avenue Georges Clemenceau, 14033 Caen cedex, France.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dina
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, University Hospital of Caen, Avenue Georges Clemenceau, 14033 Caen cedex, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mourez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, University Hospital of Caen, Avenue Georges Clemenceau, 14033 Caen cedex, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gouarin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, University Hospital of Caen, Avenue Georges Clemenceau, 14033 Caen cedex, France.
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petitjean
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire des Virus Respiratoires, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van der Werf
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, University Hospital of Caen, Avenue Georges Clemenceau, 14033 Caen cedex, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Freymuth
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000821:virology; D028962:Coronavirus OC43, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005602:France; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000821:virology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000821:virology; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins