title: Molecular characterization of genotype G6 human rotavirus strains detected in Italy from 1986 to 2009.
abstract: Group A human rotavirus (HRV) strains with a bovine-like (G6) major outer capsid protein VP7 were first detected in Palermo, Italy, in the late 1980s, and subsequently worldwide. During a 25-year rotavirus surveillance period, additional HRV G6 strains, associated with either a P[9] or P[14] VP4 genotype, have been detected sporadically, but repeatedly, in Palermo. Whether these G6 HRVs were transmitted to humans directly from an animal reservoir or could have circulated at low prevalence in susceptible individuals is uncertain. Upon sequence analyses of the VP7, VP4, VP6, NSP4 and NSP5 gene segments, all the Italian HRV strains displayed a conserved genotype constellation, G6-P[9]/[14]-I2-E2-H3. Intra-genotypic lineages and/or sub-lineages were observed among the various HRV strains, with some lineage/sublineage combinations being retained over time. Interestingly, two epidemiologically unrelated G6P[9] viruses, collected in the same rotavirus season, were found to have a clonal origin. In conclusion, our results indicate not only diverse origin of animal derived G6 HRVs in Palermo but also suggest human-to-human transmission of certain strains.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze per la Promozione della Salute G. D'Alessandro, Sezione di Microbiologia, Università di Palermo, via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy. s.degrazia@unipa.it
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Grazia
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martella
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rotolo
authors.forename: Floriana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonura
authors.forename: Jelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthijnssens
authors.forename: Krisztián
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bányai
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciarlet
authors.forename: Giovanni M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Giammanco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins