title: Emergence of the GII-4 Norovirus Sydney2012 strain in England, winter 2012-2013.
abstract: Norovirus is the commonest cause of acute gastrointestinal disease and is the main aetiological agent of outbreaks of gastroenteritis, particularly in semi-closed environments. Norovirus infections in England typically peak between December and March each year. The most commonly detected norovirus strains belong to the genetically diverse genogroup-II genotype-4 (GII-4) genocluster and in the previous two norovirus winter seasons the majority of GII-4 strains in circulation worldwide have been genetically similar to the GII-4 strain New Orleans 1805/2009/USA. At the beginning of the 2012/13 season a genetically distinct GII-4 strain (Sydney 2012/NSW0514/2012/AU) was described which emerged worldwide during the winter of 2012/13. Here we describe the emergence of norovirus strains genetically related to Sydney2012 in England during the 2012/13 season to replace NewOrleans2009 strains as the most commonly detected variant of GII-4 norovirus in England. Furthermore, we demonstrate that whilst the emergence of Sydney2012 coincided with an early peak in the number of norovirus outbreaks, there was not an overall increase in norovirus activity compared to the previous season. Finally, we show that the Sydney2012 strain is associated with distinct genetic changes compared to the NewOrleans2009 strain, and these changes may have contributed to the emergence of the Sydney2012 strain.
authors.affiliation: Virus Reference Department, Microbiology Services, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal, Emerging and Zoonotic Infections Department, Heath Protection Services, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Natalie L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Virus Reference Department, Microbiology Services, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aladin
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal, Emerging and Zoonotic Infections Department, Heath Protection Services, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom ; Institute of Infection and Global Health and National Consortium for Zoonosis Research, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Virus Reference Department, Microbiology Services, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David W G
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012621:Seasons; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins