Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the gene encoding virion protein 16 of herpes simplex virus type 2

The gene coding for glycoprotein B2 (gB2) of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) strain 333 was mapped and its nucleotide sequence determined. Open reading frame analysis deduced a polypeptide consisting of 902 amino acids and having close homology to gB1 of HSV type 1. Several predicted features of gB2 are consistent with a membrane-bound glycoprotein, i.e., a signal peptide sequence, a hydrophilic extracellular domain containing possible N-linked glycosylation sites, a hydrophobic membrane spanning sequence, and a cytoplasmic domain. Computer analysis on hydrophilicity, accessibility, and flexibility of the gB2 amino acid sequence, produced a composite surface value plot. At least nine major antigenic regions were predicted on the extracellular domain. The amino acids between residues 59–74, 127–139, 199–205, 460–476, and 580–594 exhibited the highest surface values. Comparison of the primary sequence with gB1 revealed localized regions showing amino acid diversity. Several of these locations correspond to major antigenic regions. Chou and Fasman analyses indicated that the amino acid substitutions, between positions 57–66, 461–472, and 473–481, induced changes in the secondary structure of gB. These sites could represent site-specific epitopes in the gB polypeptide.

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A 3′-untranslated region polymorphism in the TBX21 gene encoding T-bet is a risk factor for genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in humans

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/vir.0.2008/001305-0 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 89 (9) ◽

pp. 2262-2268 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Alexandra Svensson ◽

Ann-Marie H. Bergin ◽

Gun-Britt Löwhagen ◽

Petra Tunbäck ◽

Lars Bellner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Herpes Simplex Virus ◽

Herpes Simplex ◽

Genital Herpes ◽

Virus Type ◽

Herpes Simplex Virus Type ◽

Untranslated Region ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Simplex Virus

It was recently shown that the transcription factor T-bet is crucial for adequate innate and acquired immune responses to genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in mice. To test the possible genetic influence of variations in the TBX21 gene encoding T-bet on susceptibility to infection, this study evaluated the frequencies of five different single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human TBX21 gene in 159 HSV-2-infected individuals and compared them with those in 186 healthy HSV-2-seronegative controls. The data showed that one variation (rs17244587) in the 3′-untranslated region of TBX21 was strongly associated with the incidence of genital HSV-2 infection. The frequency of the A allele at this position was 0.19 in the group of HSV-2-infected individuals compared with 0.05 in the group of uninfected controls (P=9.3×10−8). Furthermore, a homozygous AA genotype was found only among HSV-2-infected individuals and not in seronegative controls. These results indicate that the host genetic background may affect susceptibility to HSV-2 infection in humans, with TBX21 as a strong candidate gene.

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