Plant, Animal & Microbe Genomes X Conference Plant, Animal & Microbe Genomes X ConferenceJanuary 12-16, 2002
Town & Country Convention Center
San Diego, CA
Session: Microbe Session Lecture
Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is classified as avian paramyxovirus-1 (APMV1), a member of the order Mononegavirales in the family Parmyxovirdae. This family is divided into two subfamilies, the Paramyxovirinae and the Pneumovirinae. During 1993 the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses rearranged the paramyxoviruses and placed NDV within the Rubulavirus genus. The genomes of most rubulaviruses, except NDV, contain a small hydrophobic (SH) protein gene that is not present among other paramyxoviruses. Based on predicted amino acid sequences for each viral protein, NDV isolates phylogenetically group as a clade separate from the rubulaviruses. The polycistronic phosphoprotein (P) gene editing sequence of NDV and putative gene products are more similar to expression patterns among members of the Respirovirus and Morbillivirus. There are nine recognized serotypes among avian paramyxoviruses that infect primarily only bird species. Fusion (F) protein and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein gene sequences are available for APMV-2 and -4, while full-length genomic sequence is available for APMV-6. These virus types are phylogenetically distinct from NDV, but separate as a clade with NDV from the other paramyxoviruses. The relationship was further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of full-length genomic sequences. As with the situation for many other avian viruses, NDV has evolved among birds separate from their mammalian counterparts. Consequently, based on several key factors, including gene and predicted amino acid sequences, avian paramyxoviruses deserve their own genus designation among the Paramyxovirinae.