The Point Mutations in Hemagglutinin Gene of Measles Virus Are Responsible for Alteration in Hemadsorption.

Three current strains of measles virus (MV) Fu, IMA and SMD, isolated using B95a cell line, were adapted to Vero cells. After adaption, these strains obtained the ability to agglutinate African green monkey red blood cells (AGM-RBC). We compared hemagglutinin gene sequences and fusion gene sequences of these two kinds of viruses. Fu strain has an Asn (HAD negative) to Tyr (HAD positive) substitution at position 481 in the hemagglutinin glycoprotein. IMA strain has an Asp(HAD negative) to Asn(HAD positive) substitution at position 14 and a Ser(HAD negative) to Gly (HAD positive) substitution at position 546 in the protein. F gene was confirmed identical between viruses. Our data show that two mutations, Asn to Tyr at position 481 and Ser to Gly at position 546 in hemagglutinin glycoprotein are responsible for alteration in hemadsorption.