title: Heterogeneity of VP4 neutralization epitopes among serotype P1A human rotavirus strains.
abstract: We have used serotype-specific VP4 and VP7 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (Nt-MAbs), as well as subgroup (SG)-specific MAbs, to characterize by enzyme immunoassay rotavirus strains isolated from diarrheic infants in the city of Monterrey, Mexico, from July 1993 to March 1994. Of a total of 465 children studied, 140 were rotavirus positive, including 3 patients infected with non-group A rotaviruses. The SG and VP7 (G) serotype specificities could be determined for 118 (84%) of the 140 rotavirus-positive stool specimens; 4 rotavirus strains were serotype G1 and SGII; 1 strain was serotype G2 and SGI+II; 112 strains were serotype G3 and SGII; 1 strain was serotype G3 and SGI; and none of the strains was serotype G4. Fifty-eight specimens, representing the 13 different group A rotavirus electropherotypes detected, were chosen for VP4 (P) serotyping. Of these, 48 (83%) strains reacted with the P1A serotype-specific Nt-MAb 1A10. None of the strains reacted with the serotype P2-specific Nt-MAbs tested. Not all viruses that reacted with Nt-MAb 1A10 were recognized by Nt-MAbs 2A3 and 2G1, which also recognize P1A strains, indicating heterogeneity of neutralization epitopes among serotype P1A human rotaviruses. This heterogeneity could be relevant for the specificity of the VP4-mediated neutralizing antibody immune response and indicates the need for antigenic characterization, in addition to genomic typing, of the VP4 proteins of circulating human rotavirus field strains.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Mexico.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Menchaca
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padilla-Noriega
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tamez
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Arias
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000821:virology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus