NEW GENETIC GROUP OF MEASLES-VIRUS ISOLATED IN THE PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA

Genetic and antigenic characterization of 14 wild-type measles viruses isolated from four provinces in the People's Republic of China during 1993 and 1994 was conducted. Sequence analyses of the hemagglutinin ( H) and nucleoprotein (N) genes indicated that 13 of the 14 Chinese vir uses comprised a previously undescribed genetic group. Viruses from th is unique group were the most genetically diverse measles viruses desc ribed, so far. The Chinese viruses differed from other wild-type virus es by as much as 6.9% in the H gene and 7.0% in the N gene at the nucl eotide level. One of the 14 viruses was a member of the same genetic g roup that contains the Edmonston strain. Antigenic analysis using mono clonal antibodies to the H protein did not detect significant differen ces in binding patterns between the Chinese viruses and other wild-typ e measles viruses. In addition, representative viruses from the unique Chinese group were neutralized by both human post-vaccination antiser um and mouse antiserum against the H protein of the Edmonston vaccine virus. Viruses closely related to these Chinese viruses were also asso ciated with importations of measles into the United States during 1997 from Vietnam and Hong Kong suggesting that viruses from this new gene tic group continue to circulate in China and possibly other parts of A sia. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.