Characteristics of pigeon paramyxovirus serotype-1 isolates (PPMV-1) from the Russian Federation from 2001 to 2009.

Monitoring programs for highly dangerous avian diseases in the Russian Federation from 2001 to 2009 detected 77 samples that were PCR positive for avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 (APMV-1) from sick or dead feral and domestic pigeons. Nucleotide sequences of the fusion (F) gene, including a nucleotide sequence encoding the F protein cleavage site, were determined for these isolates. All of the studied isolates possessed virulent F0 protein cleavage sites (112KRKKRF117, 112RRQKRF117, or 112KRQKRF117). Intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) values determined for seven of the isolates exceeded the value of 0.7 (the range from 0.8 to 1.41). Based on partial genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, the isolates were assigned to two individual sublineages within class II genotype VIb. It was determined that most of these Newcastle disease virus isolates (70/77) recovered from the pigeons belonged to a relatively poorly studied sublineage VIb/2. The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome for the Pigeon/Russia/Vladimir/687/05 isolate of sublineage VIb/2 was determined.

[Characteristics of field isolates of Newcastle disease virus isolated in the course of outbreaks in the poultry plant in the Leningrad region in 2000]. / Kharakteristika polevogo izoliata virusa n'iukaslskoi bolezni, vydelennogo vo vremia vspyshki na ptitsefabrike v Leningradskoi oblasti v 2000 g.

A field isolate of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was isolated in the Russko-Vysotskaya poultry farm, Leningrad region. Within four days after infection, the isolate caused 100% mortality in 60-day-old susceptible chickens. The HA titer of the allantoic fluid samples collected after one passage in SPF-chicken embryos was 1:512, and it reacted only with the NDV specific antiserum in HI test. Intracerebral pathogenicity index and mean embryo death time were 1.97 and 49 hours, respectively. The isolate has the amino acid sequence of the protease cleavage site of the fusion protein F0 (112R-R-Q-R-R-F117), which is similar to that in the velogenic strains of NDV. Therefore, it was concluded that the virus isolated in this work was an ethiological agent of the ND outbreak in this poultry farm.

[Phylogenetic analysis of swine fever virus strains]. / Filogeneticheskii analiz shtammov virusa chumy plotoiadnykh.

Amplification of H-gene fragment in combination with cDNA nucleotide sequencing can be used for indication and strain differentiation of classical swine fever virus.

[Primary structure of the F-gene from Rinderpest virus strain K]. / Pervichnaia struktura F-gena virusa chumy krupnogo rogatogo skota shtamma K.

Synthesis, cDNA cloning, and nucleotide sequencing of F gene of rinderpest virus strain K was carried out. Analysis of nucleotide sequence showed the only open reading frame coding for protein from 546 a.o. with mol. weight 58.6 kDa. The mean percentage of identical nucleotide residues between F genes of strains K, Kabete O, and L is 76.4% for 5'-untranslated region and 90.5% for translated region, the share of similar amino acid residues in the respective proteins is 92.9%. The structure of restriction site of F0 precursor protein in rinderpest strains with different virulence is similar. Protein F of rinderpest virus strain K has 3 potential glycosylation sites and 13 cystein residues in positions identical to those of F protein of rinderpest strains Kabete O and L.

[The nucleotide sequences of the HN gene and F gene fragment of Newcastle disease virus strains BOR74 and BOR82]. / Nukleotidnye posledovatel'nosti gena HN i fragmenta gena F shtammov BOR74 i BOR82 virusa N'iukaslskoi bolezni.

The complete nucleotide sequence of HN gene, the region of F gene, and intergene regions (M-F, F-HN, and HN-L) of the BOR74 and BOR82 strains of Newcastle disease virus have been determined. Based on the nucleotide and amino acid sequences, the speeds of the nucleic and amino acid changes were calculated (approximately 10(-3) nucleotides or amino acids/year). The BOR strains were grouped phylogenetically with the asymptomatic strains. These strains and the BOR strains have the same motif of the cleavage site (112GKQGR116-L117), but the HN protein of BOR strains has the 572 amino acids which differ the BOR strains from all other strains (571, 577, and 616 amino acids).

[Strain differentiation of the Newcastle disease virus by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and sequencing population exchange]. / Shtammovaia differentsiatsiia virusa n'iukaslskoi bolezni s pomoshch'iu obratnoi transkriptsii-polimeraznoi tsepnoi reaktsii i sekvenirovaniia: smena populiatsii.

A system for detection and strain differentiation of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) by reverse transcription of polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (isolation of RNA, choice of primers for nested PCR, and purification of PCR products) and sequencing is developed and optimized. A nucleotide sequence of gene F site, coding for the F2/F1 cleavage site of F0 fusion protein and including several hypervariable regions, is determined for 10 Russian strains and vaccine strains. The data indicate a replacement of NDV populations in Russia and a rapid evolution of the virus. The origin of pathogenic NDV strains which have been circulating up to the present time is still unknown.

[Primary structure of gene H of cattle plague virus strain K]. / Izuchenie pervichnoi struktury H-gena virusa chumy krupnogo rogatogo skota shtamma K.

Synthesis, cDNA cloning, and identification of H gene nucleotide sequence of rinderpest virus (RPV) K strain are carried out. Analysis of the identified nucleotide sequence has revealed the single open reading frame encoding a protein consisting of 609 amino acids with molecular weight of 68 kDa. The mean nucleotide homology between H genes of K, Kabete O and L strains in 88.0%, the mean amino acid homology of the corresponding proteins is 88.2%. RPV K strain hemagglutinin contains 5 potential glycosylation sites. The position of all 13 cystein bases is identical to positions in H proteins of RPV Kabete O and L strains. Studies of the hydrophobic profile of the compared proteins have shown 2 potential transmembrane fragments.