Emerging Pathogens Laboratory

The University of Iowa, College of Public Health

Department of Epidemiology

Human Viral Isolate Reference Sheet

Catalogue Item Name: hMPV-6

Isolate Published name: Peru4-2003

GenBank Accension number: DQ393718

Classification: Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) Strain: G gene, B1

Publication: This viral isolate was presented as Peru4-2003 in the phylogram published in Emerg Infect Dis 2006:12:347-350.

Passage: 1 Culture Host: LLC-MK2 cells

Time period Host cells infected: 6, 10, 14, 18 and 26 days

Original Source Information: This hMPV viral isolate was cultured from a pharyngeal swab taken from a 4 year-old female in June 2003 in Loreto, Peru. The patient was not hospitalized and had an oral temperature of 38.1ºC, at the time the swab was collected. Her symptoms included fever, runny nose, cough, nasal congestion, head, throat and eye pain.

Method of Identification Confirmation: Before evaluating the viral throat culture specimen for hMPV, it was found to be negative by routine viral culture for other common respiratory pathogens including: influenza A; influenza B; parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3; adenovirus; and RSV. The specimen was evaluated for hMPV by an RT-PCR procedure targeting the F gene (347bp amplicon) as published in JID 2003:187; 785-90. A (3+) band was produced from the original RT-PCR specimen testing, and was reproducible upon repeat testing. The specimen was inoculated onto LLC-MK2 cells. The cell culture media was removed from the cells, new media replaced and the old media aliquotted and frozen at -70° on days 6,10,14,18 and 26. The isolates first cell culture passage, held 26 days, exhibited CPE after 2 weeks. Supernatants were positive for hMPV by the above RT-PCR procedure. The 6 and 26-day supernatants gave a (3+) RT-PCR band, the 10-day gave a (2+) band, 14-day gave a (+/-) band and the 18-day gave a (1+) band. The specimen was originally set up 12/4/03 using shell vial cultures and centrifugation-enhanced inoculation. Dr. Boivin’s laboratory (Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada) has validated this as a hMPV and typed it as G gene group 2B as per phylogram published in J General Virology 2004;85:679-686.

Biosafety Level: 2

Permits/ Forms: A University of Iowa Material Transfer Agreement form must be accepted prior to distributing this viral isolate. The point of contact for this agreement is

Dwight Ferguson
Emerging Pathogens Laboratory
University of Iowa
2501 Crosspark Rd
Coralville, IA 52241
ph:  319 335-4983
fax:  319 335-4984
cph-CEIDcatalog@uiowa.edu