RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Malik, Tahir H. A1 Wolbert, Candie A1 Nerret, Laura A1 Sauder, Christian A1 Rubin, StevenYR 2009 T1 Single amino acid changes in the mumps virus haemagglutinin–neuraminidase and polymerase proteins are associated with neuroattenuation JF Journal of General Virology, VO 90 IS 7 SP 1741 OP 1747 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.009449-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB It has previously been shown that three amino acid changes, one each in the fusion (F; Ala/Thr-91→Thr), haemagglutinin–neuraminidase (HN; Ser-466→Asn) and polymerase (L; Ile-736→Val) proteins, are associated with attenuation of a neurovirulent clinical isolate of mumps virus (88-1961) following serial passage in vitro. Here, using full-length cDNA plasmid clones and site-directed mutagenesis, it was shown that the single amino acid change in the HN protein and to a lesser extent, the change in the L protein, resulted in neuroattenuation, as assessed in rats. The combination of both amino acid changes caused neuroattenuation of the virus to levels previously reported for the clinical isolate following attenuation in vitro. The amino acid change in the F protein, despite having a dramatic effect on protein function in vitro, was previously shown to not be involved in the observed neuroattenuation, highlighting the importance of conducting confirmatory in vivo studies. This report provides additional supporting evidence for the role of the HN protein as a virulence factor and, as far as is known, is the first report to associate an amino acid change in the L protein with mumps virus neuroattenuation., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.009449-0