The genomic sequence of a contemporary wild-type mumps virus strain

Vaccination has the potential to eradicate mumps, and 82 countries now incl ude a live attenuated mumps vaccine as part of their childhood vaccination programme. Although, monotypic, genetic variants of mumps virus (MuV) have been described based on comparison of the SH gene sequences, and at least s even genotypes have been identified. We now report the entire sequence of a recently isolated wild type MuV strain, Glouc1/UK96 (Glouc1) by direct seq uencing of the cDNA obtained from cell culture fluid. The genome of this re cent isolate was 15 384 nucleotides in length. There were 579 nucleotide di fferences (3.8%) and 71 amino acid differences (1.5%) between Glouc1, a gen otype G strain and Ur-AM9, a genotype B strain. Other MuV strains with avai lable sequences were also compared with this pathological strain. The seque nce of the contemporary strain reported here provides a picture of the vari ability of MuV over its entire genome (GenBank accession no; AF280799). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.