Complete sequence of the RNA genome of pneumonia virus of mice (PVM)

Abstract

Pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) is an enveloped RNA-containing virus of Family Paramyxoviridae. Sequences had been determined previously for a number of PVM genes, although these represented cloned cDNAs rather than consensus sequences. Sequences were not available for the 3' -leader and 5' -trailer regions that constitute the genome termini or for the large polymerase L gene that accounts for 43% of the genome. Also, the available sequences were from an attenuated variant of strain 15, whereas the present study analyzed the version of strain 15 that is available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and is highly virulent in mice. Analysis of unclosed RT-PCR products yielded a complete consensus sequence of 14,886 nt (GenBank accession number AY729016). Of the regions for which sequences had been previously reported for the non-pathogenic strain, there were 13 nucleotide differences and 10 amino acid differences compared to the present consensus sequence for the virulent isolate. The various genes of PVM shared 29-62% nucleotide sequence identity and 10-60% amino acid sequence identity with human or bovine respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV and BRSV), its closest relatives.