Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Abstract

Ala67Thr Mutation in the Human Polio Virus Receptor (PVR) Gene in Post-Polio Syndrome Patients

Saurabh Kumar Bhattacharya, Aditi Sarkar and Sonali Sengupta

Poliovirus (PV) has been implicated in the etiology of poliomyelitis. Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects polio survivor years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the polio virus. DNA polymorphisms in the poliovirus receptor gene (PVR) are associated with persistent poliovirus infection. In the present study we have presented clinical and demographic characteristics of the PPS individuals who were affected initially by poliomyelitis and later developed PPS. We have also attempted to find out whether mutation in the PVR gene allows poliomyelitis patients to progress for PPS. PVR mutation was studied in 110 cases of PPS and 200 normal controls. In PVR exon 2, the Ala67Thr mutation was detected in 45.46% of progressive PPS and 10% of control subjects. The frequency of the mutation was significantly higher in patients with PPS than in controls. Changes in the PVR gene may result in slowly progressive cytopathic effects that may lead to progression of PPS.