title: Evidence of recombination in the norovirus capsid gene.
abstract: Noroviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses with high genomic variability. They have emerged in the last decade as a major cause of acute gastroenteritis. It remains so far unclear whether norovirus evolution is driven by sequence mutation and/or recombination. In this study, we have assessed the occurrence of recombination in the norovirus capsid gene. For this purpose, 69 complete capsid sequences of norovirus strains accessible in GenBank as well as 25 complete capsid sequences generated from norovirus-positive clinical samples were examined. Unreported recombination was detected in about 8% of norovirus strains belonging to genetic clusters I/1 (n = 1), II/1 (n = 1), II/3 (n = 1), II/4 (n = 3), and II/5 (n = 1). Recombination breakpoints were mainly located at the interface of the putative P1-1 and P2 domains of the capsid protein and/or within the P2 domain. The recombination region displayed features such as length, sequence composition (upstream and downstream GC- and AU-rich sequences, respectively), and predicted RNA secondary structure that are characteristic of homologous recombination activators. Our results suggest that recombination in the norovirus capsid gene may naturally occur, involving capsid domains presumably exposed to immunological pressure.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Virologie, The Calicilab, Fetscherstr. 74, D-01307 Dresden, Germany. Jacques.Rohayem@mailbox.tu-dresden.de
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rohayem
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Münch
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rethwilm
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral