title: Phylogenetic analysis of human metapneumovirus detected in hospitalized patients in Kuwait during the years 2009-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an important cause of both upper and lower respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in all age groups. Children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are the most affected groups. HMPV infection accounts for 5% of hospitalized patients with respiratory tract infections in Kuwait. It is mostly detected among infants and elderly age groups, and both hMPV genotypes A and B circulate in Kuwait.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the genetic diversity of detected hMPV was evaluated, and a phylogenetic analysis based on partial nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the G gene was performed for hMPV detected among hospitalized patients with RTIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that 62% of hMPV sequences belonged to the A genotype and 38% to the B genotype. A2b and B2 subtypes were detected and circulated during the study period, whereas A1 and B1 subtypes were not detected. Based on nucleotide sequences of the G gene, most of hMPV strains (57%) were clustered with Indian strains, followed by Greek strains (24%) and Canadian strains (14%). One strain (5%) clustered within the B genotype but had different branches than B1 and B2 branches.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data showed the co-circulation of hMPV genotypes A2b and B2 in Kuwait with genetic diversity suggestive of evolution through negative selection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait. Electronic address: mariamalturab@hsc.edu.kw.
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Turab
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Wassim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chehadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Widad
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Al-Nakib
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C484233:G glycoprotein, human metapneumovirus; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: G gene; Genetic diversity; Genotypes; Human metapneumovirus (hMPV); Phylogenetic analysis; Respiratory viruses