Genome analysis of human rotaviruses by oligonucleotide mapping of isolated RNA segments

The genomes of adult diarrhoea rotaviruses isolated in different parts of China during winter outbreaks in 1983 and 1984 were compared by segmental oligonucleotide (ON) mapping. The RNA profiles of most of the isolates were indistinguishable but it was found that some corresponding RNA segments had identical or very closely related ON maps whereas others differed considerably. This finding can be taken to suggest that the strains compared may be genetically related by a natural reassortment event. The genomes of cocirculating group A rotaviruses isolated in Scotland during winter outbreaks in 1981/82 were also compared. The ON maps of corresponding RNA segment differed extensively irrespective of whether or not the segments comigrated on gels.