Twelve cDNA clones covering the entire genome of the AIK-C strain of a seed for live measles vaccine were obtained, and the nucleotide sequences were determined. The full viral genomic RNA consists of 15,894 nucleotides. Comparisons of the nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence between the AIK-C and other Edmonston strains revealed the following changes: 56 nucleotide differences and one C residue insertion, 31 amino acid changes, and 19 silent mutations.
Key words measles virus - measles vaccine - attenuated strain - molecular cloning - genome sequence