MOLECULAR RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN 21 HUMAN RHINOVIRUS SEROTYPES

We have analysed, by PCR using consensus primers followed by sequencin g, 12 human rhinoviruses (HRVs) in a genomic region including that cor responding to the immunogenic site NIm-II. Together with published inf ormation, 21 sequences are available for comparison. In the region ana lysed, which encodes 112 amino acids, the majority (18) of the serotyp es exhibited at least 70% amino acid identity to one another and some serotypes are very closely related. These include HRV-36, -58 and -89, known to exhibit antigenic cross-reactivity, which were shown to diff er at only three amino acid positions. Three serotypes, HRV-3, -14 and -72, share at least 84% identity with one another but are less than 6 6% identical to the majority group. Interestingly, membership of these two molecular clusters correlates with the groupings determined by se nsitivity to antivirus drugs, suggesting that they reflect a fundament al division of HRVs. In contrast, there is no correlation with recepto r grouping, since the majority group contains members belonging to bot h HRV receptor groups.