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

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 72; no. 5; pp. 350 - 352
• Main Authors: Saikusa, Miwako, Nao, Naganori, Kawakami, Chiharu, Usuku, Shuzo, Tanaka, Nobuko, Tahara, Maino, Takeda, Makoto, Okubo, Ichiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Editorial Committee 2019; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Cities - epidemiology; G gene; Genotype; human metapneumovirus; Humans; Metapneumovirus - genetics; Metapneumovirus - isolation & purification; Molecular Epidemiology; nucleotide duplication; Nucleotides; Nucleotides - genetics; Paramyxoviridae Infections - epidemiology; Paramyxoviridae Infections - virology; Reproduction (copying); Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - virology; RNA, Viral - genetics; Subgroups; surveillance; Cities; Japan; nucleotide duplication; surveillance; human metapneumovirus; G gene
• ISSN: 1344-6304; 1884-2836; 1884-2836
• DOI: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2019.124

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.