title: Emergence of human G2P[4] rotaviruses containing animal derived gene segments in the post-vaccine era.
abstract: The introduction of Rotarix into the Belgian immunization program in June 2006 coincided with an increase of the relative prevalence of G2P[4] strains. However, the genetic composition of these persistent G2P[4] strains has not been investigated. Therefore, we have investigated the NSP4 gene of 89 Belgian G2P[4] strains detected between 1999 and 2013, covering both pre- and post-vaccination periods. The NSP4 genes were divided over seven separate clusters of which six were more closely related to animal than to human strains. The NSP4 genes that clustered more closely to animal DS-1-like strains were isolated after 2004-2005 and were found throughout multiple seasons. Complete genome sequencing of 28 strains identified several other gene segments that clustered more closely to animal than to human DS-1-like strains. These findings suggest that frequent interspecies reassortments may have played a role in the spread of G2P[4] rotaviruses in the post-vaccination period in Belgium.
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nuyts
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heylen
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Coster
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.|KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory of Viral Metagenomics, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nádia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Conceição-Neto
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Ranst
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.|KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory of Viral Metagenomics, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthijnssens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA / Q000379:methods*; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000235:genetics*; D014611:Vaccination; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; C081369:NS28 protein, rotavirus; C492457:RIX4414 vaccine; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins