HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Google Scholar Articles by LaPatra, S. E. Articles by Winston, V. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by LaPatra, S. E. Articles by Winston, V. Agricola Articles by LaPatra, S. E. Articles by Winston, V.

Positively selected sites on the surface glycoprotein (G) of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus

¹ Clear Springs Foods Inc., PO Box 712, Buhl, ID 83316, USA
² Department of Biological Sciences, Campus Box 8007, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209-8007, USA

Correspondence
Vern Winston
winsvern{at}isu.edu

Mutations in the surface glycoprotein (G) of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), a rhabdovirus that causes significant losses in hatcheries raising salmonid fish, were studied. A 303 nt segment (mid-G region) of this protein from 88 Idaho isolates of IHNV was sequenced. Evidence of positive selection at individual codon sites was estimated by using a Bayesian method (MrBayes). A software algorithm (CPHmodels) was used to construct a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the IHNV protein. The software identified structural homologies between the IHNV G protein and the surface glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and used the VSV structure as a template for predicting the IHNV structure. The amino acids predicted to be under positive selection were mapped onto the proposed IHNV 3D structure and appeared at sites on the surface of the protein where antigen–antibody interaction should be possible. The sites identified as being under positive selection on the IHNV protein corresponded to those reported by others as active sites of mutation for IHNV, and also as antigenic sites on VSV. Knowledge of the sites where genetic variation is positively selected enables a better understanding of the interaction of the virus with its host, and with the host immune system. This information could be used to develop strategies for vaccine development for IHNV, as well as for other viruses.