Sequence Conservation and Variability in Canine Distemper Virus Proteins

Öz

Canine distemper virus (CDV), a member of the Paramyxoviridae family, is a highly contagious pathogen with a broad host range, causing considerable morbidity and mortality in domestic and wild carnivores. In this study, a total of 2882 complete and partial CDV sequences, deposited in GenBank until 17 August 2025, were analysed. The sequences were aligned and categorized according to their genes (N, P, C, M, F, H, and L), and consensus sequences were generated. Comparative analyses revealed that the M protein was the most conserved (73.35%), followed by the L protein (69.58%). H (2.15%) and N (2.10%) proteins displayed the lowest levels of conservation. The highest variability was observed in the F (3.32%) and H (0.82%) proteins. Critical residues of the H protein, previously associated with viral tropism and antigenicity, were evaluated: position 238 was predominantly Y, position 241 was G, and position 530 was G. Furthermore, the residue at position 519 of the N protein, reported to be linked with virulence, was identified as R in the consensus sequence. Structural modelling of the H protein was performed, highlighting the spatial localization of these key residues. The results underline the genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of CDV and provide insights into antigenic drift, host adaptation, and viral persistence. These findings are expected to support future studies focusing on epitope mapping, vaccine development, and antiviral drug design.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Canine distemper virus
• Consensus sequence
• Genetic variability
• H protein
• N protein

Etik Beyan

We declare that all stages of the study have been conducted in accordance with research and publication ethics, and that we have adhered to ethical principles as well as the rules of proper scientific citation.

Köpek Distemper Virusu Proteinlerinde Dizi Korunumu ve Değişkenliği

Öz

Canine distemper virus (CDV), Paramyxoviridae familyasında yer alan, geniş konak spektrumuna sahip ve yüksek morbidite ile mortaliteye yol açabilen viral bir patojendir. Bu çalışmada, 17 Ağustos 2025 tarihine kadar GenBank’a yüklenen toplam 2882 parçalı ve tam CDV dizisi indirilerek, analiz edilmiştir. Diziler, gen bölgelerine (N, P, C, M, F, H, L) göre ayrılarak hizalanmış ve her biri için konsensüs dizileri oluşturulmuştur. Analizler sonucunda M proteininin %73,35 oranında, L proteininin ise %69,58 oranında tamamen korunduğu; en az korunmuş proteinlerin ise H (%2,15) ve N (%2,10) olduğu tespit edilmiştir. En değişken amino asitler F (%3,32) ve H (%0,82) proteinlerinde yoğunlaşmıştır. Tropizm ve antijeniteyle ilişkili H proteininin kritik amino asitleri incelendiğinde, 238. pozisyonun çoğunlukla Y, 241. pozisyonun G, 530. pozisyonun ise G olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca N proteininin patojenite ile ilişkili 519. amino asit pozisyonu konsensüs dizide R olarak saptanmıştır. H proteininin yapısal modellemesi yapılarak kritik amino asitlerin konumları belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen veriler, CDV’nin genetik çeşitliliğini, antijenik sürüklenmesini ve konak adaptasyonunu anlamaya katkı sunmakta olup, gelecekte epitop haritalama, yeni aşı tasarımı ve antiviral ilaç geliştirme çalışmalarına temel oluşturabilecek niteliktedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Genetik çeşitlilik
• H protein
• Konsensüs dizisi
• Köpek distemper virusu
• N proteini

Etik Beyan

Çalışmanın tüm süreçlerinin araştırma ve yayın etiğine uygun olduğunu, etik kurallara ve bilimsel atıf gösterme ilkelerine uyduğumuzu beyan ederiz.

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