title: Prevalence and genomic characterization of G2P[4] group A rotavirus strains during monovalent vaccine introduction in Brazil.
abstract: This study aims to: estimate the prevalence of G2P[4] rotaviruses in Brazil between 2001-2011 from patients with acute gastroenteritis; perform phylogenetic analyses of G2P[4] Brazilian strains (from vaccinated and non-vaccinated children) based on VP7 and VP8(∗) encoding genes and analyze the antigenic regions of these proteins comparing with RV1; and assess the full genetic background of eleven selected Brazilian strains. The G2P[4] detection rate among RVA positive samples was 0/157 in 2001, 3/226 (1.3%) in 2002, 0/514 in 2003, 0/651 in 2004, 31/344 (9%)/2005, 112/227 (49%)/2006, 139/211 (66%)/2007, 240/284 (85%)/2008, 66/176 (37.5%)/2009, 367/422 (87%)/2010 and 75/149 (50%)/2011. For the VP7 and VP8(∗) encoding genes, 52 sequences were analyzed and shared up to 99% nucleotide identity with other contemporary G2P[4] strains detected worldwide, grouping into different clusters. Most differences inside antigenic epitopes of VP7 and VP8(∗) have been maintained in the G2P[4] Brazilian strains along the years, and all were present before RV1 introduction. Eleven G2P[4] strains (4-vaccinated/7-non-vaccinated) were completely characterized and possessed the typical DS-1-like genotype constellation (G2-P[4]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2) sharing up to 99% of nucleotide identity with contemporary worldwide strains. Reassortments between Brazilian G2P[4] human strains were observed. In conclusion, the data obtained in the current study suggests that implementation of RV1 vaccination might not influence the genetic diversity observed in G2P[4] analyzed strains. Several factors might have contributed to the increased prevalence of this genotype in Brazil since 2005: the introduction of RV1 into the Brazilian National Immunization Program has resulted in a decrease in the relative prevalence of predominant Wa-like RVA strains facilitating the increase of the heterotypic (DS-1-like) RVA strain G2P[4] in the Brazilian population; the genetic diversity found in different geographical regions throughout the years before, and after the introduction of RV1; the long period of low or no circulation of this genotype in Brazil previous to RV1 introduction could have created favorable conditions for the accumulation of immunological susceptible individuals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: marielamartinezgomez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariela Martínez
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Filipe Anibal
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Carvalho-Costa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo de Mello
authors.initials: Ede M
authors.lastname: Volotão
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Lundgren
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelle Figueira Marques
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Madi
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fialho
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosane Maria S
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana da Silva Ribeiro
authors.initials: Jda S
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Caroline Costa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sá
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heylen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthijnssens
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Paulo Gagliardi
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leite
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D062306:Geography, Medical; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines
keywords: Acute gastroenteritis; G2P[4]; Genomic background; Group A rotaviruses; Monovalent vaccine