Complete genomic analysis of a Bangladeshi G1P[8] rotavirus strain detected in 2003 reveals a close evolutionary relationship with contemporary human Wa-like strains.
More than 120 variants of rotavirus strains with different VP7 (G type) and VP4 (P type) combinations are reported thus far. Among them Wa-like G1P[8] rotaviruses are the most common human strains worldwide. However, characterization of their entire genome complement is limited to a few old prototype strains, and no complete genome data for any G1P[8] strain isolated in the last decade are available. Both the currently licensed rotavirus vaccines Rotarix and RotaTeq possess the G1 and P[8] specificities. Therefore, comprehensive genetic information of the currently circulating G1P[8] strain is important to assess the impact of rotavirus vaccines on the circulating rotavirus strains. Here we report the complete genome sequence of a G1P[8] rotavirus strain Dhaka16-03 isolated in 2003 from a Bangladeshi child hospitalized with severe diarrhea. Based on a full-genome classification system, Dhaka16-03 was shown to posses the typical Wa-like genotype constellation: G1-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-E1-H1. The strain was phylogenetically more closely related to contemporary human rotavirus strains (isolated in the 2000s) with a range of G and P-genotypes than to those of the prototype G1P[8] strains. Since the vaccine strains are developed based on strains isolated several decades ago, it is important to know how much the vaccine strains differ from the currently circulating G1P[8] and other Wa-like strains. Our complete genome characterization of a recent G1P[8] strain will be helpful to assess the ongoing rotavirus vaccine trials and their implementation programs in the forthcoming years.
Rahman
Mustafizur
M
Laboratory of Virology, ICDDR,B: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh. mustafizur@icddrb.org
Matthijnssens
Jelle
J
Saiada
Farjana
F
Hassan
Zahid
Z
Heylen
Elisabeth
E
Azim
Tasnim
T
Van Ranst
Marc
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000940:Antigenic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D001459:Bangladesh; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors