Epstein-Barr virus strains defined by the latent membrane protein 1 sequence characterize Thai ethnic groups.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is ubiquitous in the human population and seroepidemiological studies have revealed that more than 90% of adults are infected with the virus in Thailand. It has been suggested that latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) variants may differ in their tumorigenicity and geographical localization. The distribution of LMP1 variants of EBV in the Thai population was studied. A total of 259 LMP1 sequences from ten Thai ethnic groups (Lahu, Lisu, Shan, Red Karen, White Karen, Hmong, Akha, Mlabri, Moken and Urak Lawoi) were studied using direct PCR sequencing. Nucleotide sequences corresponding to the C terminus of the LMP1, including previously published sequences from central and southern Thais, were used in the phylogenetic analysis. Five strains--the B95-8 prototype, China 1, China 2, Mediterranean (Med) and SEA 2--were identified in ethnic groups in Thailand. The major strain and the distribution pattern differed by group and location. When the ethnic groups were classified by linguistic group, the prevalence of the SEA 2 strain was significantly different between Austro-Thais and other linguistic groups (P=0.0001), whereas, among Tibeto-Burman linguistic groups, the prevalence of the Med strain was different between matrilocal and patrilocal groups (P=0.0245). The distribution of LMP1 strains in ethnic minorities in Thailand is associated with ethnogeographical factors and the social/marriage system. This study thus provides evidence for the importance of interactions between populations in virus diversity.
Saechan
Vannarat
V
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.|Unit of Human Biology and Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Settheetham-Ishida
Wannapa
W
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Kimura
Ryosuke
R
Transdisciplinary Research Organization for Subtropical and Island Studies, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
Tiwawech
Danai
D
Research Division, National Cancer Institute, Bangkok, Thailand.
Mitarnun
Winyou
W
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
Ishida
Takafumi
T
Unit of Human Biology and Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005843:Geography; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D004279:DNA, Viral; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins