Genetic characterization of a novel, naturally occurring recombinant human G6P[6] rotavirus.
A binary classification system has been established for group A rotaviruses, with the viral capsid protein VP7 defining G types and VP4 defining P types. At least 15 G types and 21 P types have been isolated globally with various G and P combinations. Most of the currently circulating human rotaviruses belong to G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], and G4P[8]. We report a human rotavirus strain (B1711) with a novel genotypic VP7/VP4 combination of G6P[6]. This unique rotavirus was isolated from a 13-month-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- negative child of an HIV-seropositive Malian mother that was hospitalized with severe diarrhea in Belgium after returning from a trip to Mali. The VP7 and VP4 genes of the rotavirus strain were sequenced, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparisons with 15 known G genotypes indicated that the VP7 sequence of strain B1711 was most closely related to an American (Se584) and an Italian (PA151) human G6 strain (95 to 96% nucleotide and 98% amino acid identity). Comparison of the VP4 sequence with 21 P types showed the closest similarity to P[6] genotypes, with greatest similarity to a G8P[6] Malawi strain (mw131) (97% nucleotide and 98% amino acid identity). The B1711 strain is the first reported rotavirus isolate with a G6P[6] genotypic combination. The discovery and surveillance of novel human and nonhuman rotavirus G or P types or of novel G/P combinations is essential for the design of future rotavirus vaccines and for our understanding of rotavirus diversity and evolution.
Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Mustafizur
M
Rahman
Karolien
K
De Leener
Truus
T
Goegebuer
Elke
E
Wollants
Ingrid
I
Van der Donck
Lieve
L
Van Hoovels
Marc
M
Van Ranst
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001483:Base Sequence; D001530:Belgium; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008302:Mali; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000821:virology; D014195:Travel
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus