Complete gene sequence of a human Puumala hantavirus isolate, Puumala Umeå/hu: sequence comparison and characterisation of encoded gene products

Puumala virus is a member of the hantavirus genus in the Bunyaviridae family, and the major causative agent of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Europe. This study was conducted with a human Puumala virus isolate (PUUV Umeå/hu), and contains the determination of the first complete PUUV sequence from a human source. When the relationship to other Puumala viruses was analysed, a possible RNA segment exchange between two local strains of PUUV was noticed. Furthermore, the coding regions of PUUV Umeå/hu S- and M-segments were cloned, and a large set of gene products were expressed in mammalian cells. In addition, postulated N- and O-linked glycosylation sites in the two envelope proteins (Gn and Gc) were investigated individually by site-directed mutagenesis followed by gel-shift analysis. Our data demonstrate that N-linked glycosylation occurs at three sites in Gn (N142, N357 and N409), and at one site in Gc (N937). Also, one possible O-glycosylation site was identified in Gc (T985). We conclude that the diversity between different Puumala virus isolates is high, and consequently characterization of local PUUV isolates is important for clinical diagnostic work. Finally, the obtained results concerning the encoded gene products are of great importance for the design of new vaccines.