Predominant Detection of the Subgroup A2b Human Metapneumovirus Strain with a 111-Nucleotide Duplication in the G gene in Yokohama City, Japan in 2018

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2019 Sep 19;72(5):350-352. doi: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2019.124. Epub 2019 May 31.

Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been a major causative agent of acute respiratory infections in humans. Recently, two types of variant A2b subtype HMPV strains possessing a 111- or 180-nucleotide duplication (nt-dup) in the G gene (HMPV A2b180nt-dup and HMPV A2b111nt-dup, respectively) were detected in Japan, Spain, Vietnam, and China. Our surveillance for infectious agents in Yokohama City, Japan revealed that the HMPV A2b111nt-dup strain became predominant in Yokohama City in 2018. In contrast, no classic HMPV A2b strain was detected after 2017. These data indicate a beneficial role of the 111nt-dup in the G gene for the transmission of HMPV.

Keywords: G gene; human metapneumovirus; nucleotide duplication; surveillance.

MeSH terms

  • Cities / epidemiology
  • Genotype*
  • Humans
  • Metapneumovirus / genetics*
  • Metapneumovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Nucleotides / genetics
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / virology*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology*

Substances

  • Nucleotides
  • RNA, Viral