The present invention provides an isolated mammalian
negative strand RNA virus,
metapneumovirus (MPV), within the sub-family Pneumoviridae, of the family
Paramyxoviridae. The invention also provides isolated mammalian
negative strand RNA viruses identifiable as phylogenetically corresponding or relating to the
genus Metapneumovirus and components thereof. In particular the invention provides a mammalian MPV, subgroups and variants thereof. The invention relates to genomic
nucleotide sequences of different isolates of mammalian metapneumoviruses, in particular human metapneumoviruses. The invention relates to the use of the sequence information of different isolates of mammalian metapneumoviruses for diagnostic and therapeutic methods. The present invention relates to
nucleotide sequences encoding the
genome of a
metapneumovirus or a portion thereof, including both mammalian and avian
metapneumovirus. The invention further encompasses chimeric or recombinant viruses encoded by said
nucleotide sequences. The invention also relates to chimeric and recombinant mammalian MPV that comprise one or more non-native or
heterologous sequences. The invention further relates to vaccine formulations comprising mammalian or avian metapneumovirus, including recombinant and chimeric forms of said viruses. The vaccine preparations of the invention encompass multivalent vaccines, including bivalent and trivalent vaccine preparations. The invention also provide methods for propagating
virus.