title: Genetic diversity of G9P[8] rotavirus strains circulating in Italy in 2007 and 2010 as determined by whole genome sequencing.
abstract: This study reports the molecular characterization of G9P[8] rotavirus strains from children with acute diarrhea identified in different cities of Italy, in 2007 and 2010. Seventeen samples exhibited a G9P[8] genotype by RT-PCR and semi-nested PCR. Preliminary sequence analysis of the VP7 and VP8(*) encoding genes revealed nucleotide identities ranging between 96% and 100%. Full genome sequencing of four G9P[8] strains selected in different cities or years showed that the investigated Italian strains possessed a complete Wa-like genotype constellation. However, phylogenetic analyses assigned strains to different clusters reflecting point mutations and possibly earlier reassortment between Wa-like RVA strains. Deduced amino acid sequence of the VP7 and VP4 genes for the G9P[8] strains revealed at least five substitutions in relevant antigenic sites of both proteins.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Immunobiologicals Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ianiro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heylen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delogu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthijnssens
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Ranst
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fiore
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000821:virology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus