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Though mumps virus (MuV) is a monotypic virus, genetic variation between strains has been described. Viruses have been placed into genotypes designated A–L based on the nucleotide sequence of the small hydrophobic (SH) gene, which is the most variable gene in the mumps genome. Molecular characterisation of MuV is an important component of mumps surveillance because it can help identify the transmission pathways of the virus as well as distinguish between wild-type and vaccine strains. Here, we propose a standardized nomenclature and an analysis protocol for the genetic characterisation of mumps strains to facilitate expansion of molecular epidemiological studies. In addition to assigning standard reference strains for the recognized genotypes of MuV, a convention is proposed for naming for strains and criteria to designate a new genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary. An epidemic of mumps in Lithuania started in December 1998 and continued until May 2000. The total registered number of cases was about 11.000 of a total of 3,7 million inhabitants in Lithuania (29,7 cases/10000). Virus- containing samples were collected from 80 patients treated at the hospital of Kaunas from October 1999 until the end of the epidemic. Out of the 80 patients with parotitis, meningitis was observed in 11 patients and orchitis in 22 of 69 male patients. Twenty-seven virus strains were genotyped by nucleotide sequencing of the small hydrophobic (SH) protein gene, and the 57 amino acid sequences of the gene were deduced. Twenty-five virus strains belonged to the C genotype and two were of the D genotype. By phylogenetic analysis the virus strains causing meningitis grouped in a separate cluster, designated C1, within the C genotype. Another group of ten of the 25 genotype C strains exhibited an amino acid triplet at amino acid positions 28 to 30 of the protein, consisting of valine, alanine and serine, instead of the previously recognised valine, valine and serine combination of genotype C. The amino acid alanine at position 29 was found in combination with the amino acid serine at position 48. This variant was designated C2 and it was associated with parotitis. The amino acid alanine at position 29 and serine in position 48 of the C2 genotype may constitute a marker of low neurovirulence compared to other genotype C strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary. Twelve strains of mumps virus, belonging to the A, C and D genotypes of the small hydrophobic (SH) protein gene, were investigated by nucleotide sequencing of the fusion protein gene. The nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences were aligned and compared with previously reported sequences of the gene. In addition an antigenic comparison between the F protein of different strains of the A, C and D genotypes was performed with ten monoclonal antibodies directed against the F protein of genotype A. Phylogenetic analysis of the coding region of the F gene showed the expected clustering of the different genotypes, as previously determined from the SH protein gene. Comparison of the 538 long amino acid sequence of the protein showed that only a small number of amino acids differed between the viral strains. The A genotype differed from B, C and D whereas the latter showed fewer consistent amino acid differences between themselves. Nine of the ten monoclonal antibodies reacted with the C and D genotypes and one failed to react with these genotypes. It is concluded that the structure and antigenicity of the F protein is well conserved both intra- and intergenotypically over long periods of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]