Whole Genome Sequence Analysis of a Prototype Strain of the Novel Putative Rotavirus Species L

Rotaviruses infect humans and animals and are a main cause of diarrhea. They are non-enveloped viruses with a genome of 11 double-stranded RNA segments. Based on genome analysis and amino acid sequence identities of the capsid protein VP6, the rotavirus species A to J (RVA-RVJ) have been defined so far. In addition, rotaviruses putatively assigned to the novel rotavirus species K (RVK) and L (RVL) have been recently identified in common shrews (Sorex araneus), based on partial genome sequences. Here, the complete genome sequence of strain KS14/0241, a prototype strain of RVL, is presented. The deduced amino acid sequence for VP6 of this strain shows only up to 47% identity to that of RVA to RVJ reference strains. Phylogenetic analyses indicate a clustering separated from the established rotavirus species for all 11 genome segments of RVL, with the closest relationship to RVH and RVJ within the phylogenetic RVB-like clade. The non-coding genome segment termini of RVL showed conserved sequences at the 5'-end (positive-sense RNA strand), which are common to all rotaviruses, and those conserved among the RVB-like clade at the 3'-end. The results are consistent with a classification of the virus into a novel rotavirus species L.