title: Whole genomic analysis of human G12P[6] and G12P[8] rotavirus strains that have emerged in Kenya: identification of porcine-like NSP4 genes.
abstract: G12 rotaviruses are globally emerging rotavirus strains causing severe childhood diarrhea. However, the whole genomes of only a few G12 strains have been fully sequenced and analyzed, of which only one G12P[4] and one G12P[6] are from Africa. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete genomes of three G12 strains (RVA/Human-tc/KEN/KDH633/2010/G12P[6], RVA/Human-tc/KEN/KDH651/2010/G12P[8], and RVA/Human-tc/KEN/KDH684/2010/G12P[6]) identified in three stool specimens from children with acute diarrhea in Kenya, Africa. On whole genomic analysis, all three Kenyan G12 strains were found to have a Wa-like genetic backbone: G12-P[6]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1 (strains KDH633 and KDH684) and G12-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1 (strain KDH651). Phylogenetic analysis showed that most genes of the three strains examined in this study were genetically related to globally circulating human G1, G9, and G12 strains. Of note is that the NSP4 genes of strains KDH633 and KDH684 appeared to be of porcine origin, suggesting the occurrence of reassortment between human and porcine strains. Furthermore, strains KDH633 and KDH684 were very closely related to each other in all the 11 gene segments, indicating derivation of the two strains from a common origin. On the other hand, strain KDH651 consistently formed distinct clusters of 10 of the 11 gene segments (VP1-2, VP4, VP6-7, and NSP1-5), indicating a distinct origin of strain KDH651 from that of strains KDH633 and KDH684. To our knowledge, this is the first report on whole genome-based characterization of G12 strains that have emerged in Kenya. Our observations will provide important insights into the evolutionary dynamics of emerging G12 rotaviruses in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Parasitology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan. Electronic address: satoshik@fujita-hu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komoto
authors.affiliation: Kenya Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nairobi 19993-00202, Kenya.
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wandera Apondi
authors.affiliation: Kenya Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nairobi 19993-00202, Kenya.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Kenya Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nairobi 19993-00202, Kenya.
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Odoyo
authors.affiliation: Center for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi 54840-00200, Kenya.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nyangao
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Parasitology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Parasitology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsutaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Parasitology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeno
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashi-Murayama, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirato
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.affiliation: Kenya Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nairobi 19993-00202, Kenya.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichinose
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Parasitology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Koki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016679:Genome, Viral; D023281:Genomics; D005838:Genotype; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013552:Swine; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000235:genetics; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; C081369:NS28 protein, rotavirus; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins
keywords: Africa; G12 strains; Group A rotavirus; Reassortment; Whole genomic analysis