Full Sequence Analysis and Characterization of Human Bocavirus Type 2 in South Korea

Abstract

Background: Human bocavirus (HBoV) is found worldwide and can infect the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of infants and children. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to characterize the complete genome of a new HBoV2A strain isolated from a patient in Korea with gastroenteritis. Methods: Viral genomic DNA was extracted from an HBoV-positive stool specimen isolated from 3-year-old female with gastroenteritis. Entire coding sequences were analyzed using a newly designed set of primers in the conserved regions in 2017. Results: The full-length genome was 5,107 bp long. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete genome sequence, including the three open reading frames (ORFs), indicated that CUK18 belonged to the HBoV2A genotype. The CUK18 strain showed the highest similarity with strain Nsc10-N386 isolated in Russia. Analysis of the ORF3, which encodes the viral capsid proteins VP1 and VP2, found that amino acid sequences corresponding to the three-fold-symmetry-related monomer were frequently substituted, a distinguishing feature of this specific genotype. Conclusions: Results of this study may provide valuable information for HBoV epidemiology studies and vaccine development.