Genetic variability within the VP1 coding region of echovirus type 30 isolates - Brief report

Genetic relationships of the prototype Bastianni strain of 1958 and of 13 e chovirus type 30 (ECV30) isolates associated with meningitis cases in Germa ny during a period from 1966 to 1997 were investigated using direct sequenc ing of amplicons derived from a part of the capsid protein VP1 gene. Sequen ces were aligned both with each other and with known sequences of other typ e 30 echovirus strains. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that isolates inves tigated in this work fell into at least three genetic clusters apart from t he prototype Bastianni strain. This suggests that genetically distinct grou ps of ECV30 variants have developed over time.