Genetic Diversity and Molecular Epidemiology of Circulating Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Central Taiwan, 2008–2017

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the molecular evolution and phylodynamics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) over 10 consecutive seasons (2008–2017) and the genetic variability of the RSV genotypes ON1 and BA in central Taiwan. The ectodomain region of the G gene was sequenced for genotyping. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the second hypervariable region of the G protein in RSV ON1 and BA were analyzed. A total of 132 RSV-A and 81 RSV-B isolates were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the NA1, ON1, and BA9 genotypes were responsible for the RSV epidemics in central Taiwan in the study period. For RSV-A, the NA1 genotype predominated during the 2008–2011 seasons. The ON1 genotype was first detected in 2011 and replaced NA1 after 2012. For RSV-B, the BA9 and BA10 genotypes cocirculated from 2008 to 2010, but the BA9 genotype has predominated since 2012. Amino acid sequence alignments revealed the continuous evolution of the G gene in the ectodomain region. The predicted N-glycosylation sites were relatively conserved in the ON1 (site 237 and 318) and BA9 (site 296 and 310) genotype strains. Our results contribute to the understanding and prediction of the temporal evolution of RSV at the local level.

Evolutionary dynamics of respiratory syncytial virus in Buenos Aires: Viral diversity, migration, and subgroup replacement

“…In the present study of Argentine genomes, all except three RSV-A genomes had the G gene duplication (ON1 strain), and all the three non-ON1 strains were found only during the 2015 outbreak, clustering in the GA2.3.4 genetic lineage (the ancestor from which the ON1 strains diverged). Our findings concur with what others have reported, demonstrating the diminishing presence of non-ON1 strains in global circulation ( Lee et al. 2021 ; Valley-Omar et al.…”

Circulation pattern and genetic variation of human respiratory syncytial virus in China during 2008–2021

“…In this study, several high‐frequency amino acid mutation sites in the G‐HVR2 regions of genotype ON1 (E262K, L274P, Y297H, and L298P/S) and BA9 strains (L219P, T254I, and Y287H) were identified to be under positive selection. Among them, L274P positive selected site have been lined to viral immune escape, while little is known about other sites 48–51 . The mutations at positively selected sites in the G gene do contribute biologically and immunologically to escape and evolution, 52 whether positively selected sites identified in the ON1 and BA9 genotypes in this study are associated with these effects requires further study to confirm.…”

“…Among them, L274P positive selected site have been lined to viral immune escape, while little is known about other sites. [48][49][50][51] The mutations at positively selected sites in the G gene do contribute biologically and immunologically to escape and evolution, 52 whether positively selected sites identified in the In conclusion, this study investigated the circulation pattern and genetic characterization of HRSV in China over a 14-year period, which enriched the genetic data of HRSV circulating in China and provided an important basis for the development of HRSV vaccines and drugs as well as the formulation of prevention and control strategies.…”

Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection During COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children in Shanghai, China

“…The RSV genome, which is around 15 kb, encodes at least 11 proteins, among which the attachment (G) protein and fusion (F) protein are key to mediating viral entry and inducing virus-neutralizing antibodies ( Krishnamoorthy et al, 2012 ). The second hypervariable region (HVR2) of the G gene is highly genetically diverse and prone to be under selection pressure, which enabled it to be commonly used for the molecular classification of RSV ( Lee et al, 2021 ). RSV has been classified as subgroups A and B based on genetic and immunological analyses, and further subclassified into at least 13 RSV A and 20 RSV B genotypes based on the sequences of the HVR2 of the G gene ( Ma et al, 2021 ).…”