title: Novel NSP1 genotype characterised in an African camel G8P[11] rotavirus strain.
abstract: Animal-human interspecies transmission is thought to play a significant role in influencing rotavirus strain diversity in humans. Proving this concept requires a better understanding of the complete genetic constellation of rotaviruses circulating in various animal species. However, very few whole genomes of animal rotaviruses, especially in developing countries, are available. In this study, complete genetic configuration of the first African camel rotavirus strain (RVA/Camel-wt/SDN/MRC-DPRU447/2002/G8P[11]) was assigned a unique G8-P[11]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A18-N2-T6-E2-H3 genotype constellation that has not been reported in other ruminants. It contained a novel NSP1 genotype (genotype A18). The evolutionary dynamics of the genome segments of strain MRC-DPRU447 were rather complex compared to those found in other camelids. Its genome segments 1, 3, 7-10 were closely related (>93% nucleotide identity) to those of human-animal reassortant strains like RVA/Human-tc/ITA/PA169/1988/G6P[14] and RVA/Human-wt/HUN/Hun5/1997/G6P[14], segments 4, 6 and 11 shared common ancestry (>95% nucleotide identity) with bovine rotaviruses like strains RVA/Cow-wt/CHN/DQ-75/2008/G10P[11] and RVA/Cow-wt/KOR/KJ19-2/XXXX/G6P[7], whereas segment 2 was closely related (94% nucleotide identity) to guanaco rotavirus strain RVA/Guanaco-wt/ARG/Rio_Negro/1998/G8P[1]. Its genetic backbone consisted of DS-1-like, AU-1-like, artiodactyl-like and a novel A18 genotype. This suggests that strain MRC-DPRU447 potentially emerged through multiple reassortment events between several mammalian rotaviruses of at least two genogroups or simply strain MRC-DPRU447 display a unique progenitor genotypes. Close relationship between some of the genome segments of strain MRC-DPRU447 to human rotaviruses suggests previous occurrence of reassortment processes combined with interspecies transmission between humans and camels. The whole genome data for strain MRC-DPRU447 adds to the much needed animal rotavirus data from Africa which is limited at the moment.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council/Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Department of Virology, University of Limpopo/NHLS Dr George Mukhari Tertiary Laboratory, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Khuzwayo C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Jere
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council/Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Department of Virology, University of Limpopo/NHLS Dr George Mukhari Tertiary Laboratory, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Gastroenteritis and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, NCIRD, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Mathew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Esona
authors.affiliation: Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Virology, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Yahia H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council/Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Department of Virology, University of Limpopo/NHLS Dr George Mukhari Tertiary Laboratory, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peenze
authors.affiliation: Gastroenteritis and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, NCIRD, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Sunando
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Gastroenteritis and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, NCIRD, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.affiliation: Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Virology, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Intisar K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Shambat, 13314 Khartoum North, Sudan.
authors.forename: Abdelmelik I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Khalafalla
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council/Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Department of Virology, University of Limpopo/NHLS Dr George Mukhari Tertiary Laboratory, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nyaga
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council/Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Department of Virology, University of Limpopo/NHLS Dr George Mukhari Tertiary Laboratory, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mphahlele
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council/Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Department of Virology, University of Limpopo/NHLS Dr George Mukhari Tertiary Laboratory, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council/Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Department of Virology, University of Limpopo/NHLS Dr George Mukhari Tertiary Laboratory, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address: mapaseka.seheri@ul.ac.za.
authors.forename: Mapaseka L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Seheri
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus; D002417:Cattle; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology
keywords: Africa; Camel rotavirus; Rotavirus genotypes; Whole genome analysis