Genome sequence of the thermostable Newcastle disease virus (strain I-2) reveals a possible phenotypic locus

• Published in: Veterinary microbiology 2006-04, Vol.114 (1), p.134-141
• Main Authors: Kattenbelt, J.A., Meers, J., Gould, A.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chick Embryo; Chickens; Complete genome sequence; DNA Primers - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Variation - genetics; genome; Genome, Viral - genetics; heat stability; heat tolerance; HN Protein - chemistry; HN Protein - genetics; HN Protein - immunology; Hot Temperature; L protein; live vaccines; loci; microbial genetics; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Molecular Sequence Data; mutation; NDV; Newcastle disease; Newcastle Disease - prevention & control; Newcastle disease virus; Newcastle disease virus - classification; Newcastle disease virus - genetics; Newcastle disease virus - immunology; nucleotide sequences; Phenotype; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Poultry Diseases - prevention & control; Poultry Diseases - virology; Sequence Alignment; sequence analysis; strain differences; strains; Thermostable; vaccine strains; vertebrate viruses; Viral Vaccines - chemistry; Viral Vaccines - genetics; Virology
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2005.10.041

The complete genome sequence of the Australian I-2 heat-tolerant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine (master seed stocks) was determined and compared to the sequence of the parent virus from which it had been derived after exposure of the parent stock at 56 °C for 30 min. Nucleotide changes were observed at a number of positions with synonymous mutations being greater than those observed for non-synonymous mutations. Sequence data for the HN gene of a parental culture of V4 and two heat-tolerant variants of V4 were obtained. These were compared with the data for the I-2 viruses and with published sequences for parental V4 and for a number of ND vaccine strains. Sequence analyses did not reveal the ARG 303 deletion in the HN protein, previously claimed to be responsible for the thermostable phenotype. No consistent changes were detected that would indicate involvement of the HN protein in heat resistance. The majority of alterations were observed in the L protein of the virus and it is proposed that these alterations were responsible for the heat-tolerant phenotype of the I-2 NDV vaccine.