Journal
VIROLOGY JOURNAL
Volume 6, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
BMC
DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-6-138
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Funding
- NIH [R03 AI 054790, R21 AI 082417, N01 AI65298, RR00095, UL1RR024975]
- Burroughs Wellcome Fund Clinical Scientist Award in Translation Research to JEC
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Background: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an important cause of acute respiratory illness in children. We examined the diversity and molecular evolution of HMPV using 85 full-length F (fusion) gene sequences collected over a 20-year period. Results: The F gene sequences fell into two major groups, each with two subgroups, which exhibited a mean of 96% identity by predicted amino acid sequences. Amino acid identity within and between subgroups was higher than nucleotide identity, suggesting structural or functional constraints on F protein diversity. There was minimal progressive drift over time, and the genetic lineages were stable over the 20-year period. Several canonical amino acid differences discriminated between major subgroups, and polymorphic variations tended to cluster in discrete regions. The estimated rate of mutation was 7.12 x 10(-4) substitutions/site/year and the estimated time to most recent common HMPV ancestor was 97 years (95% likelihood range 66-194 years). Analysis suggested that HMPV diverged from avian metapneumovirus type C (AMPV-C) 269 years ago (95% likelihood range 106-382 years). Conclusion: HMPV F protein remains conserved over decades. HMPV appears to have diverged from AMPV-C fairly recently.
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