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Published on: January 28, 2019
Genetic and antigenic characterization of a serotype G6 human rotavirus isolated in Melbourne, Australia
1Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract:
An unusual rotavirus strain, MG6, was isolated from a 16-month-old child admitted to hospital with acute gastroenteritis. The virus could not be serotyped (G-typed) by enzyme immunoassay using standard reagents specific for common serotypes of human Group A rotaviruses. Nucleotide sequencing of cDNA derived from the gene encoding the outer capsid protein, VP7, and deduction of the VP7 amino acid sequence indicated that this strain belonged to serotype G6, a serotype normally associated with viruses causing disease in cattle. This was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction typing and enzyme immunoassay using a G6-specific monoclonal antibody. The VP4 genotype of MG6 was determined by hybridization of its VP4 cDNA to genomic RNA isolated from standard strains of defined P-types. This analysis, confirmed by deduced amino acid sequence analysis, classified MG6 into the novel genotype P13. MG6, therefore, is related to the previously described G6P13 human strain PA169, isolated in Italy. The emergence of strain MG6, the first human G6 rotavirus identified in Australia, provides further evidence of reassortment between human and animal rotaviruses.
Insights
A novel rotavirus strain, MG6, was identified in Australia. This unusual G6P13 strain, typically found in cattle, highlights reassortment between animal and human rotaviruses.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Group A rotaviruses are a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children globally.
- Standard diagnostic methods sometimes fail to identify unusual or novel rotavirus strains.
- Animal rotaviruses can potentially reassort with human strains, leading to new emergent viruses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize an unusual rotavirus strain (MG6) isolated from a child with acute gastroenteritis in Australia.
- To determine the G and P genotypes of the novel rotavirus strain MG6.
- To investigate the potential for interspecies transmission and reassortment of rotaviruses.
Main Methods:
- Nucleotide sequencing of the VP7 gene and amino acid sequence analysis.
- Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using standard and G6-specific reagents.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) typing.
- VP4 cDNA hybridization and deduced amino acid sequence analysis.
Main Results:
- The rotavirus strain MG6 could not be serotyped using standard reagents for human rotaviruses.
- Sequence analysis identified MG6 as a G6 serotype, typically associated with bovine rotaviruses.
- VP4 genotyping classified MG6 into the novel P13 genotype.
- MG6 is genetically related to the human G6P13 strain PA169 previously isolated in Italy.
Conclusions:
- The identification of MG6 represents the first human G6 rotavirus strain detected in Australia.
- The findings support the hypothesis of genetic reassortment between animal and human rotavirus strains.
- Continuous surveillance and characterization of rotavirus strains are crucial for understanding viral evolution and epidemiology.
