title: Evolution and Transmission of Respiratory Syncytial Group A (RSV-A) Viruses in Guangdong, China 2008-2015.
abstract: Respiratory syncytial viruses (RSVs) including subgroups A (RSV-A) and B (RSV-B) are an important cause of acute respiratory tract infections worldwide. RSV-A include major epidemic strains. Fundamental questions concerning the evolution, persistence and transmission of RSV-A are critical for disease control and prevention, yet remain unanswered. In this study, we generated 64 complete G gene sequences of RSV-A strains collected between 2008 and 2015 in Guangdong, China. Phylogenetic analysis was undertaken by incorporating 572 publicly available RSV-A sequences. Current data indicate that genotypes GA1, GA4, and GA5 are endemic with limited epidemic activity. In contrast, the GA2 genotype which likely originated in 1980 has spread rapidly and caused epidemics worldwide. By analyzing GA2 genotype sequences across epidemic seasons within Guangdong, we find that RSV-A epidemics in Guangdong are caused by a combination of virus importation and local persistence, although the magnitude of the latter is likely overestimated due to infrequent sampling in other regions. Our results provide new insights into RSV-A evolution and transmission at global and local scales and highlights the rapid and wide spread of genotype GA2 compared to other genotypes. In order to control RSV transmission and outbreak, both local persistence and external introduction should be taken into account when designing optimal strategies.
authors: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guangzhou, China.
authors: Lirong
authors: L
authors: Zou
authors: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangzhou, China.
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Yi
authors: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guangzhou, China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Wu
authors: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yingchao
authors: Y
authors: Song
authors: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guangzhou, China.
authors: Guofeng
authors: G
authors: Huang
authors: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guangzhou, China.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guangzhou, China.
authors: Lijun
authors: L
authors: Liang
authors: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guangzhou, China.
authors: Hanzhong
authors: H
authors: Ni
authors: Department of Zoology, University of Oxford Oxford, UK.
authors: Oliver G
authors: OG
authors: Pybus
authors: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guangzhou, China.
authors: Changwen
authors: C
authors: Ke
authors: Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGuangzhou, China; Department of Zoology, University of OxfordOxford, UK.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Lu
keywords: evolution; phylogenetic; phylogeographic; respiratory syncytial virus; transmission