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Updated: Nov 3, 2025
Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
Published on: January 28, 2019
Whole gene analysis of a genotype G29P[6] human rotavirus strain identified in Central African Republic
Virginie Banga-Mingo1, Mathew D Esona2, Naga S Betrapally3
1Laboratoire Des Virus Entériques/Rougeole, Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Ave de L'Indépendance, BP 923, Bangui, Central African Republic.
Insights
A novel Rotavirus A (RVA) strain was identified in a child from the Central African Republic. This G29-P[6] strain shows evidence of genetic reassortment between human and animal RVA strains.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Rotavirus A (RVA) is a primary cause of gastroenteritis in young children and animals.
- Understanding RVA diversity is crucial for disease control and vaccine development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize a novel RVA strain identified in a 6-month-old child from the Central African Republic (CAR).
- To investigate the genetic origins and potential reassortment of this RVA strain.
Main Methods:
- Whole-genome sequencing of the RVA strain RVA/Human-wt/CAR/CAR91/2014/G29P[6].
- Phylogenetic analysis of the 11 open reading frames (ORFs).
- Sequence similarity comparisons with known human and animal RVA strains.
Main Results:
- The identified strain is a G29-P[6]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2 RVA.
- Most genes showed high similarity to genogroup 2 human RVA strains.
- VP3 and NSP4 genes displayed genetic clustering with both human and animal strains, suggesting reassortment.
- VP7 and VP4 genes showed close resemblance to other human G29 and P[6] strains from Africa and Bangladesh.
Conclusions:
- The RVA strain from CAR represents a unique genetic profile with evidence of interspecies transmission and reassortment.
- This finding highlights the ongoing evolution of RVA and the importance of continuous surveillance.
Objective:
Rotavirus A (RVA) remains the main causative agent of gastroenteritis in young children and the young of many mammalian and avian species. In this study we describe a RVA strain detected from a 6-month-old child from Central African Republic (CAR).
Results:
We report the 11 open reading frame sequences of a G29-P[6]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2 rotavirus strain, RVA/Human-wt/CAR/CAR91/2014/G29P[6]. Nine genes (VP1-VP3, VP6, NSP1-NSP5) shared 90-100% sequence similarities with genogroup 2 rotaviruses. Phylogenetically, backbone genes, except for VP3 and NSP4 genes, were linked with cognate gene sequences of human DS-1-like genogroup 2, hence their genetic origin. The VP3 and NSP4 genes, clustered genetically with both human and animal strains, an indication genetic reassortment human and animal RVA strains has taken place. The VP7 gene shared nucleotide (93-94%) and amino acid (95.5-96.7%) identities with Kenyan and Belgian human G29 strains, as well as to buffalo G29 strain from South Africa, while the VP4 gene most closely resembled P[6]-lineage I strains from Africa and Bangladesh (97%).
