|
||||||||
|
|
Genetic Characterization and Sequencing Wild-type measles viruses have been divided into distinct genetic groups according to the nucleotide sequences of their hemagglutinin (H) and nucleoprotein (N) genes, which are the most variable genes on the viral genome. The nucleotide sequence encoding the carboxy-terminus (text-only) of the nucleoprotein (the last 450 nucleotides) has up to 12% nucleotide variation between the most dissimilar genotypes. For each genetic grouping or genotype, a reference strain (text-only) is designated for use in genetic analysis (phylogenetic analysis), usually the earliest known virus isolation of that group. The means of referring to the genotypes has been standardized using alphabetical designations for the main groupings (clades). Within the main groups, numerals are added for closely related, but distinct groups that exist or are encountered as more viruses are sequenced.
Citation list of journal articles on measles genotyping and sequencing (text-only) National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GenBank (exit site). Guidelines for naming strains or sequences have been developed so that a consistent genetic designation and analysis protocol can be applied by all investigators when communicating data about measles viruses. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Home | Specimen Shipping | Contact Us CDC Home | Search | Health Topics A-Z |
This page last reviewed January 4, 2006 |
|