title: Characterization of a G1P[8] rotavirus causing an outbreak of gastroenteritis in the Northern Territory, Australia, in the vaccine era.
abstract: In 2010, a large outbreak of rotavirus gastroenteritis occurred in the Alice Springs region of the Northern Territory, Australia. The outbreak occurred 43 months after the introduction of the G1P[8] rotavirus vaccine Rotarix(®). Forty-three infants were hospitalized during the outbreak and analysis of fecal samples from each infant revealed a G1P[8] rotavirus strain. The outbreak strain was adapted to cell culture and neutralization assays were performed using VP7 and VP4 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. The outbreak strain exhibited a distinct neutralization resistance pattern compared to the Rotarix(®) vaccine strain. Whole genome sequencing of the 2010 outbreak virus strain demonstrated numerous amino acid differences compared to the Rotarix(®) vaccine strain in the characterized neutralization epitopes of the VP7 and VP4 proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of the outbreak strain revealed a close genetic relationship to global strains, in particular RVA/Human-wt/BEL/BE0098/2009/G1P[8] and RVA/Human-wt/BEL/BE00038/2008/G1P[8] for numerous genes. The 2010 outbreak strain was likely introduced from a globally circulating population of strains rather than evolving from an endemic Australian strain. The outbreak strain possessed antigenic differences in the VP7 and VP4 proteins compared to the Rotarix(®) vaccine strain. The outbreak was associated with moderate vaccine coverage and possibly low vaccine take in the population.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital , Melbourne 3052, Victoria, Australia ; La Trobe University , Bundoora 3086, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Celeste M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital , Melbourne 3052, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cowley
authors.affiliation: Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University , Casuarina 0810, Northern Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Snelling
authors.affiliation: The J Craig Venter Institute , Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
authors.forename: Asmik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akopov
authors.affiliation: The J Craig Venter Institute , Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
authors.forename: Ewen F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Kirkness
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital , Melbourne 3052, Victoria, Australia ; La Trobe University , Bundoora 3086, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Carl D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
keywords: Australia; G1P[8]; diarrheal outbreak; full-genome analysis; rotavirus, Rotarix®