Citation

Chow, Wei Zhen and Chan, Yoke Fun and Oong, Xiang Yong and Ng, Liang Jie and Nor’E, Siti Sarah and Ng, Kim Tien and Chan, Kok Gan and Hanafi, Nik Sherina and Pang, Yong Kek and Kamarulzaman, Adeeba and Tee, Kok Keng (2016) Genetic diversity, seasonality and transmission network of human metapneumovirus: Identification of a unique sub-lineage of the fusion and attachment genes. Scientific Reports, 6. p. 27730. ISSN 2045-2322

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Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an important viral respiratory pathogen worldwide. Current knowledge regarding the genetic diversity, seasonality and transmission dynamics of HMPV among adults and children living in tropical climate remains limited. HMPV prevailed at 2.2% (n = 86/3,935) among individuals presented with acute respiratory tract infections in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 2012 and 2014. Seasonal peaks were observed during the northeast monsoon season (November-April) and correlated with higher relative humidity and number of rainy days (P < 0.05). Phylogenetic analysis of the fusion and attachment genes identified the co-circulation of three known HMPV sub-lineages, A2b and B1 (30.2% each, 26/86) and B2 (20.9%, 18/86), with genotype shift from sub-lineage B1 to A2b observed in 2013. Interestingly, a previously unrecognized sub-lineage of A2 was identified in 18.6% (16/86) of the population. Using a custom script for network construction based on the TN93 pairwise genetic distance, we identified up to nine HMPV transmission clusters circulating as multiple sub-epidemics. Although no apparent major outbreak was observed, the increased frequency of transmission clusters (dyads) during seasonal peaks suggests the potential roles of transmission clusters in driving the spread of HMPV. Our findings provide essential information for therapeutic research, prevention strategies, and disease outbreak monitoring of HMPV.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	T Technology > T Technology (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Information Science and Technology (FIST)
Depositing User:	Ms Suzilawati Abu Samah
Date Deposited:	07 Dec 2017 12:11
Last Modified:	07 Dec 2017 12:11
URII:	http://shdl.mmu.edu.my/id/eprint/6567

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