Identification of human cytomegalovirus variants by analysis of single strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing of the envelope glycoprotein B gene region-distribution frequency in liver transplant recipients

Single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) of PCR-amplified DN A and subsequent DNA sequencing of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotei n B (gB) gene were applied to identify known HCMV strains and to detect new virus variants. 61 HCMV PCR positive patients were studied out of a cohort of 410 patients after liver transplantation (LTX). SSCP was able to distin guish between strains Davis, AD169, and Towne, and in addition could identi fy five new virus variants (Berlin B, C, E, F, and H). Their frequency, gB and gH types were determined. Simultaneous infections with two or three str ains or variants, as well as a switch from one virus to another virus were observed during long-term follow-up. No correlation between the occurrence of certain Virus strains or gB types and defined clinical manifestations of HCMV infection after LTX was drawn. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.