Human metapneumovirus G protein is highly conserved within but not between genetic lineages

Abstract

Background Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an important cause of acute respiratory illnesses in children. HMPV encodes two major surface glycoproteins, fusion (F) and glycoprotein (G). The function of G has not been fully established, though it is dispensable for in vitro and in vivo replication. Methods We analyzed 87 full-length HMPV G sequences from isolates collected over 20 years. Results The G sequences fell into four subgroups with a mean 63% amino acid identity (minimum 29%). The length of G varied from 217 to 241 residues. Structural features such as proline content and N- and O-glycosylation sites were present in all strains but quite variable between subgroups. There was minimal drift within the subgroups over 20 years. The estimated time to the most recent common ancestor was 215 years. Conclusions HMPV G was conserved within lineages over 20 years, suggesting functional constraints on diversity. However, G was poorly conserved between subgroups, pointing to potentially distinct roles for G among different viral lineages.

Programmed Death-1 Impairs Secondary Effector Lung CD8+ T Cells during Respiratory Virus Reinfection

“…For influenza virus, progressive evolution through RNA genome mutations leads to antigenic drift and immune escape (44). However, paramyxoviruses, including HMPV and RSV, do not exhibit the same degree of genetic evolution and remain antigenically stable over decades (11, 45, 46). Healthy adults who have experienced natural RSV infection have been experimentally challenged with the same RSV strain and productively reinfected repeatedly over months, even within two months of the first infection (14).…”

Features of the Course of Metapneumoviral Infection in Adults

“…HMPV не може викликати захворювання у птахів. Отже, якщо HMPV дійсно виник у людей як зоонозна інфекція, то сьогодні він повністю адаптований до людей [16].…”

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“…2 Evolutionary analysis suggested that HMPV diverged from AMPV type C several hundred years ago. 3–5 However, birds cannot be productively infected with HMPV, indicating that while the virus had a zoonotic origin, it has evolved to become an established human pathogen. 6 …”

“…3–5,7 Longitudinal epidemiologic surveillance identified changes in subgroup dominance over time, suggesting that subtle changes between subgroups facilitate reinfection. 8 Reinfection with either homologous or heterologous strains of HMPV occurs readily, even during early childhood.…”