NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF THE P1 REGION OF SEROTYPE ASIA1 FOOT-AND-MOUTH-DISEASE VIRUS

Differences in the amino acid sequence of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) virion proteins (VP) among the various FMDV serotypes, particu larly in the VP1 polypeptide, are the basis for antigenic diversity of this virus group. This phenomenon provides the basis for type diagnos is of FMDV by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In order to specifi cally identify the Asia1 FMDV serotype by PCR, the nucleotide sequence of its pi-coding region was determined. The sequence exhibited over 7 0% homology with the P1 gene segment of type O1k. The deduced amino ac id sequence shares 79% homology with that of the P1 region of serotype O1k.