Respiratory syncytial virus B sequence analysis reveals a novel early genotype

Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 10;11(1):3452. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83079-2.

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory infections and is classified in two main groups, RSV-A and RSV-B, with multiple genotypes within each of them. For RSV-B, more than 30 genotypes have been described, without consensus on their definition. The lack of genotype assignation criteria has a direct impact on viral evolution understanding, development of viral detection methods as well as vaccines design. Here we analyzed the totality of complete RSV-B G gene ectodomain sequences published in GenBank until September 2018 (n = 2190) including 478 complete genome sequences using maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses, as well as intergenotypic and intragenotypic distance matrices, in order to generate a systematic genotype assignation. Individual RSV-B genes were also assessed using maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses and multiple sequence alignments were used to identify molecular markers associated to specific genotypes. Analyses of the complete G gene ectodomain region, sequences clustering patterns, and the presence of molecular markers of each individual gene indicate that the 37 previously described genotypes can be classified into fifteen distinct genotypes: BA, BA-C, BA-CC, CB1-THB, GB1-GB4, GB6, JAB1-NZB2, SAB1, SAB2, SAB4, URU2 and a novel early circulating genotype characterized in the present study and designated GB0.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Genes, Viral*
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Genotype*
  • Geography
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / virology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / classification*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / genetics*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / isolation & purification
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Whole Genome Sequencing

Substances

  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • attachment protein G