title: Genomic characterization and molecular investigation of VP7 epitopes of uncommon G10P[8] group A rotavirus strains detected in Italy in 2009.
abstract: Rotavirus strains with the uncommon genotype G10 have been detected sporadically in cases of acute gastroenteritis in humans and are thought to be transmitted zoonotically. During 2009, 10 G10P[8] rotavirus strains were detected in the stools of children hospitalized with acute diarrhoea in several paediatric hospitals in Italy. The phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 gene of the Italian G10P[8] strains analysed revealed nucleotide identities ranging from 94 to 99 %. Molecular characterization of the 11 genomic segments was performed for one of the G10 strains, which displayed a complete genomic constellation 1 for the non-G genes. The analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the G10 VP7 epitopes revealed low amino acid identity with common human strains of different G genotype and with the VP7 proteins included in both anti-rotavirus commercial vaccines (Rotarix and RotaTeq). Amongst the common G genotypes, the VP7 amino acid sequence of the G10 strains showed a high similarity with sequences from G9 strains. A hydrophobic cluster analysis (HCA) of the VP7 protein including aa 20-298 was performed for the G10 Italian sequences in comparison with the major human group A rotavirus G genotypes. The HCA analysis confirmed the findings obtained previously by amino acid analysis of the VP7 epitopes, detecting a genotype-specific pattern of hydrophobicity in the hypervariable regions of the major outer capsid protein.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ianiro
authors.affiliation: 2National Center for Immunobiologicals Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delogu
authors.affiliation: 2National Center for Immunobiologicals Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D012367:RNA, Viral; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus