title: Contribution of the attachment G glycoprotein to pathogenicity and immunogenicity of avian metapneumovirus subgroup C.
abstract: Avian metapneumovirus (AMPV) causes an upper respiratory tract infection in turkeys leading to serious economic losses to the turkey industry. The G glycoprotein of AMPV is known to be associated with viral attachment and pathogenesis. In this study, we determined the role of the G glycoprotein in the pathogenicity and immunogenicity of AMPV strain Colorado (AMPV/CO). Recombinant AMPV/CO lacking the G protein (rAMPV/CO-deltaG) was generated using a reverse-genetics system. The recovered rAMPV/CO-deltaG replicated slightly better than did wild-type AMPV in Vero cells. However, deletion of the G gene in AMPV resulted in attenuation of the virus in turkeys. The mutant virus induced less-severe clinical signs and a weaker immune response in turkeys than did the wild-type AMPV. Our results suggest that the G glycoprotein is an important determinant for the pathogenicity and immunogenicity of AMPV.
authors.affiliation: Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, 8075 Greenmead Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
authors.forename: Dhanasekaran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Govindarajan
authors.forename: Shin-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Siba K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Samal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005814:Genes, Viral; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D014422:Turkeys; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014774:Virulence; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C116204:attachment protein G