Characterization of nontypeable rotavirus strains from the United States: identification of a new rotavirus reassortant (P2A[6],G12) and rare P3[9] strains related to bovine rotaviruses.
Among 1316 rotavirus specimens collected during strain surveillance in the United States from 1996 to 1999, most strains (95%) belonged to the common types (G1 to G4 and G9), while 5% were mixed infections of common serotypes, rare strains, or not completely typeable. In this report, 2 rare (P[9],G3) and 2 partially typeable (P[6],G?; P[9],G?) strains from that study were further characterized. The P[6] strain was virtually indistinguishable by hybridization analysis in 10 of its 11 gene segments with recently isolated P2A[6],G9 strains (e.g., U.S.1205) from the United States, but had a distinct VP7 gene homologous (94.7% a.a. and 90.2% nt) to the cognate gene from P1B[4],G12 reference strain L26. Thus, this serotype P2A[6],G12 strain represents a previously unrecognized reassortant. Three P3[9] strains were homologous (97.8-98.2% aa) in the VP8 region of VP4 to the P3[9],G3 feline-like reference strain AU-1, but had a high level of genome homology to Italian bovine-like, P3[9],G3 and P3[9],G6 rotavirus strains. Two of the U.S. P3[9] strains were confirmed to be type G3 (97.2-98.2% VP7 aa homology with reference G3 strain AU-1), while the other was most similar to Italian bovine-like strain PA151 (P3[9],G6), sharing 99.0% a.a. homology in VP7. Cross-neutralization studies confirmed all serotype assignments and represented the first detection of these rotavirus serotypes in the United States. The NSP4 genes of all U.S. P3[9] strains and rotavirus PA151 were most closely related to the bovine and equine branch within the DS-1 lineage, consistent with an animal origin. These results demonstrate that rare strains with P and G serotypes distinct from those of experimental rotavirus vaccines circulate in the United States, making it important to understand whether current vaccine candidates protect against these strains.
Griffin
D D
DD
Viral Gastroenteritis Section, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Nakagomi
T
T
Hoshino
Y
Y
Nakagomi
O
O
Kirkwood
C D
CD
Parashar
U D
UD
Glass
R I
RI
Gentsch
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002213:Capsid / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D002417:Cattle; D005838:Genotype; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D014481:United States; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C081369:NS28 protein, rotavirus; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C079234:NS35 protein, rotavirus