Genetic characterization of complete open reading frame of glycoprotein C gene of bovine herpesvirus 1

Aim: To characterize one of the major glycoprotein genes viz., glycoprotein C (gC; UL44, unique long region 44) of bovine herpesvirus 1(BoHV1) of Indian origin at genetic and phylogenetic level. Materials and Methods: A bovine herpesvirus 1 isolate viz., (BoHV1/IBR 216 II/ 1976/ India) maintained at Division of Virology, IVRI, Mukteswar was used for the current study. The DNA was extracted using commercial kit and the complete ORF of gC gene was amplified, cloned, and sequenced by conventional Sanger sequencing method. The sequence was genetically and phylogenetically analysed using various bioinformatic tools. The sequence was submitted in the Genbank with accession number Kc756965. Results: The complete ORF of gC gene was amplified and sequenced. It showed 100% sequence homology with reference cooper strain of BoHV1 and divergence varied from 0% to 2.7% with other isolates of BoHV1. The isolate under study had divergence of 9.2%, 13%, 26.6%, and 9.2% with BoHV5 (Bovine herpesvirus 5), CvHV1 (Cervid herpesvirus 1), CpHV1 (Caprine herpesvirus 1), and BuHV1 (Bubaline herpesvirus 1), respectively. Conclusion: This is the first genetic characterization of complete open reading frame (ORF) of glycoprotein C gene (UL44) of Indian isolate of BoHV1. The gC gene of BoHV1 is highly conserved among all BoHV1 isolates and it can be used as a target for designing diagnostic primers for the specific detection of BoHV1.