Partial genome sequence of murine gammaherpesvirus 72 and its analysis

Abstract

Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68)-infected mouse is a well known model for studies of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related lymphoproliferative diseases (LPD). Murine gammaherpesvirus 72 (MHV-72) has been considered a close relative of MHV-68 but its replication in murine mammary gland cells and kinetics of infection of mice were found to be different. Pathological studies of a long-term-infection of mice revealed a similar or higher malignancy development rate in MHV-72-infected mice as compared with that of MHV-68. Previous comparison of MHV-72 with MHV-68 revealed their diversity in M3, MK3, and M7 genes encoding the chemokine-binding protein, immune evasion protein and glycoprotein 150, respectively. In this study, a portion (22,899 bp) of MHV-72 genome sequence was determined, analyzed and compared with that of MHV-68. Nucleotide sequences of 13 structural and 6 non-structural genes of MHV-72 and deduced amino acid sequences revealed their identity to those of MHV-72 except for differences in 9 nucleotides and 8 amino acids, occurring in 5 genes and their proteins. Due to these differences, 4 structural proteins encoded by ORF20, ORF26, ORF48, and ORF52, respectively, and a non-structural protein encoded by ORF4, all of MHV-72, are predicted to have altered hydrophilicity and surface exposure in comparison with their MHV-68 counterparts. These differences obviously contribute to some different pathogenetical features of these viruses and could explain the reduced immunogenicity of MHV-72 in relation to MHV-68, allowing MHV-72 to escape the host immune surveillance.

Partial genome analysis of murine gammaherpesvirus 4556

“…This difference was predicted to reduce the hydrophilicity and surface exposure of the aa 35 -aa 55 region. Sequence alignment of orF52 proteins of 15 herpesviruses revealed only five proteins with an amino acid differing from Thr at position 45 (Benach et al, 2007;halásová et al, 2011). In this study, we found in Mhv-4556 at this position Ile, a difference common with Mhv-72.…”

“…to date, partial genome sequence of three gammaherpesviruses is known. These viruses include a novel gammaherpesvirus designated Brest herpesvirus (Brhv), isolated from white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula in France, Mhv-Šumava and Mhv-72 (Blasdell et al, 2003;hughes et al, 2010;Blaškovičová et al, 2007;halásová et al, 2011). They all show similarity with Mhv-68 in the growth in cell culture and pathogenesis in their natural hosts.…”

“…Sequencing of the Mhv-72 genome in the length of 22,899 bp ecompassing 22 genes revealed its diversity from Mhv-68 in five structural proteins encoded by orF20, orF26, orF48, M7, and orF52, two immune evasion proteins (M3, Mk3) and one non-structural protein encoded by orF4 (rašlová et al 2000b;Mačáková et al, 2003;valovičová et al, 2006;Belvončíková et al, 2008;halásová et al, 2011). The observed diversity was suggested to contribute to some different pathogenetical features of Mhv-72 in relation to Mhv-68.…”

A Deletion of Signal Peptide in Recombinant Murine Gamma-herpesvirus 68 M3 Protein Enhances its Binding Affinity to CCL5 Chemokine and Increases its Yield from Insect Cells

“…The protein was compared to its counterpart from MHV-72 (clone h3.7), which possesses a unique Asp307Gly mutation near the C-terminus of the M3 CCL2-chemokine binding domain. Experimental infection of Balb/c mice with MHV-72 found that this virus elicited an attenuated immune response and exhibited weaker latency establishment and reactivation [31][32][33]. Belvončíková et al [30] found that both M3 proteins had the weakest affinity for the CCL3 chemokine.…”

“…captured in Slovakia and Bohemia [13]. From these, the murine herpesviruses MHV-72 and MHV-4556 have been the most deeply studied with regards to their pathogenesis and molecular properties [14,15].…”