Metapneumovirus strains and their use in vaccine formulations and as vectors for expression of antigenic sequences

An isolated negative-sense single stranded RNA metapneumovirus, wherein the negative-sense single stranded RNA metapneumovirus encodes:

• (i) a N protein with at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:366;
• (ii) a P protein with at least 70% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:374;
• (iii) a M protein with at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:358;
• (iv) a F protein with at least 82% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:314;
• (v) a M2-1 protein with at least 85% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:338;
• or
• (vi) a M2-2 protein with at least 60% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:346,
• wherein sequence identity is determined over the entire length of the respective protein.

An isolated nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid encodes a protein selected from the group consisting of a protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:366;

• a protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 70% identical to SEQ ID NO:374;
• a protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:358;
• a protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 82% identical to SEQ ID NO:314;
• a protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:338;
• and a protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 60% identical to SEQ ID NO:346.

An isolated protein, wherein the protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:366;

• an amino acid sequence that is at least 70% identical to SEQ ID NO:374;
• an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:358;
• an amino acid sequence that is at least 82% identical to SEQ ID NO:314;
• an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:338;
• and an amino acid sequence that is at least 60% identical to SEQ ID NO:346.