Comparative sequence analysis of the large polymerase protein (L) gene of peste-des-petits ruminants (PPR) vaccine virus of Indian origin

The complete nucleotide sequence of the large polymerase (L) protein of the peste-des-petits ruminants (PPR) vaccine virus (PPRV Sungri/96) belonging to the Asian lineage was determined. The gene was 6643 nucleotides in length from the gene-start to the gene-end and encoded a polypeptide of 2183 amino acids. The PPRV Sungri/96 has a nucleotide homology of 94.1% for PPRV Nigeria 75/1 to 64.4% for Canine distemper virus. At amino acid level PPRV Sungri/96 has an amino acid identity of 96.2% with PPRV Nigeria 75/1 and 70.4% to 74.8% with other morbilliviruses. All the established domains in L protein characteristic of paramyxoviruses were also found to be present in PPRV Sungri/96. Phylogenetic analysis of different L proteins of morbilliviruses revealed five well-defined clusters as observed previously. The 3′ trailer sequence of PPRV Sungri/96 is of 37 nucleotides long which is very similar to that of other morbilliviruses. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report describing the polymerase gene sequence of PPRV Indian isolate.