title: Detection and characterization of rotaviruses in hospitalized neonates in Blantyre, Malawi.
abstract: In five separate fecal collections spanning three years, group A rotaviruses were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 35 (25%) of 142 specimens obtained from nondiarrheic, hospitalized neonates in Blantyre, Malawi. Molecular characterization of each strain identified, for the first time in neonates, a short electropherotype, genotype P[6], G8 strain type, similar to the dominant, cocirculating community strain detected in symptomatic infants in Blantyre. Partial sequence analysis of the VP4 and NSP4 genes of neonatal and community strains failed to identify changes which could explain the differences in clinical outcome. Neonatal serotype G8 rotaviruses should be considered as potential rotavirus vaccine candidates for use in Malawi.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, College of Medicine, Universities of Malawi and Liverpool, United Kingdom. n.a.cunliffe@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Cunliffe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogerson
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dove
authors.forename: B D M
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Thindwa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greensill
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Broadhead
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hart
mesh_terms: D002213:Capsid / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008295:Malawi; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases