title: Genetic characterization and phylogeny of pigeon paramyxovirus isolate (PPMV-1) from Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knowing the genome characteristics of circulating Newcastle disease viruses [avian paramyxoviruses (APMV-1) and pigeon paramyxoviruses (PPMV-1)] is important to devise appropriate diagnostics and control strategies. APMVs originating from chicken and wildlife in Pakistan are well-elucidated; nevertheless, molecular characterization for the circulating PPMV-1 is largely unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we have performed fusion (F) and hemagglutinin (HN) gene based characterization of PPMV-1 isolated from an outbreak in a pigeon flock. With F0 proteolytic cleavage site (112RRQKR↓F117), characteristic of velogenic/mesogenic serotype, the complete F and HN gene based sequence analysis of the isolate revealed evolutionary relationship to genotype VI. Further analysis of hyper-variable region of F-gene demonstrated clustering of the study isolate with genotype VIb. The deduced residue analysis for both F and HN protein showed a number of substitution mutations in the functional domains distinct from representative strains of each genotype including the vaccine strains; some of them were found exclusive to the study isolate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though limited and preliminary data, the findings enhance our knowledge towards circulating strains of PPMVs in Pakistan. Further studies are needed to ascertain its potential for transmission in the wild birds, commercial and backyard poultry and its subsequent shedding into the environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54600 Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sameera
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54600 Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Akram
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Muneer
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54600 Pakistan.
authors.forename: Khushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54600 Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Yasin
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Tipu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54600 Pakistan.
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabbani
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54600 Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ul-Rahman
authors.affiliation: Quality Operations Laboratory, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54600 Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Zubair
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3562-007X
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Shabbir
keywords: Newcastle disease virus; Pakistan; Pigeon; Pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV-1)