Norovirus recombination in ORF1/ORF2 overlap.
Norovirus (NoV) genogroups I and II (GI and GII) are now recognized as the predominant worldwide cause of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in humans. Three recombinant NoV GII isolates were identified and characterized, 2 of which are unrelated to any previously published recombinant NoV. Using data from the current study, published sequences, database searches, and molecular techniques, we identified 23 recombinant NoV GII and 1 recombinant NoV GI isolates. Analysis of the genetic relationships among the recombinant NoV GII isolates identified 9 independent recombinant sequences; the other 14 strains were close relatives. Two of the 9 independent recombinant NoV were closely related to other recombinants only in the polymerase region, and in a similar fashion 1 recombinant NoV was closely related to another only in the capsid region. Breakpoint analysis of recombinant NoV showed that recombination occurred in the open reading frame (ORF)1/ORF2 overlap. We provide evidence to support the theory of the role of subgenomic RNA promoters as recombination hotspots and describe a simple mechanism of how recombination might occur in NoV.
Bull
Rowena A
RA
School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Hansman
Grant S
GS
Clancy
Leighton E
LE
Tanaka
Mark M
MM
Rawlinson
William D
WD
White
Peter A
PA
D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D029322:Norovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins