The genetic variability of glycoproteins among respiratory syncytial virus subtype A in China between 2009 and 2013

Abstract Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children under 5 years of age. The novel genotype ON1 has a 72-nucleotide duplication, which is the largest duplicated genome portion of RSV. Whether the ON1 genotype will follow the pattern of the BA genotype, which has a 60-nucleotide duplication, and become the predominant RSV-A strain is a global concern. To obtain information regarding the prevalence of the ON1 genotype in Chongqing in Southwestern China, we examined the circulation pattern of RSV-A identified over four consecutive years (June 2009 to August 2013). In this study, 312 (12%) RSV-A strains were isolated from 2601 nasopharyngeal aspirates, and partial G gene was sequenced successfully in 250 isolates. Of the sequenced Chongqing RSV-A isolates, 237 (94.8%) strains were the NA1 genotype, 4 (1.6%) strains were the NA3 genotype, 4 (1.6%) strains were the NA4 genotype, 1 (0.4%) strain was the GA1 genotype, and 4 (1.6%) strains were identified as the ON1 genotype. Analysis of the distribution, phylogeny, and evolution of the ON1 strains that were collected globally until December 2013 revealed that the ON1 genotype has rapidly disseminated across the world under positive selection pressures. Future studies will determine whether this new genotype will continue to spread and become the dominant strain of RSV-A worldwide. These findings may contribute to the understanding of RSV evolution and to the potential development of a vaccine against RSV.