Uncovering the First Atypical DS-1-like G1P[8] Rotavirus Strains That Circulated during Pre-Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction Era in South Africa

Mwangi, Peter N, Mogotsi, Milton T, Rasebotsa, Sebotsana P, Seheri, Mapaseka L, Mphahlele, M Jeffrey, Ndze, Valantine N, Dennis, Francis E, Jere, Khuzwayo C ORCID: 0000-0003-3376-8529 and Nyaga, Martin M (2020) Uncovering the First Atypical DS-1-like G1P[8] Rotavirus Strains That Circulated during Pre-Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction Era in South Africa. PATHOGENS, 9 (5). E391-.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9050391

Abstract

Emergence of DS-1-like G1P[8] group A rotavirus (RVA) strains during post-rotavirus vaccination period has recently been reported in several countries. This study demonstrates, for the first time, rare atypical DS-1-like G1P[8] RVA strains that circulated in 2008 during pre-vaccine era in South Africa. Rotavirus positive samples were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Two G1P[8] strains (RVA/Human-wt/ZAF/UFS-NGS-MRC-DPRU1971/2008/G1P[8] and RVA/Human-wt/ZAF/UFS-NGS-MRC-DPRU1973/2008/G1P[8]) possessed a DS-1-like genome constellation background (I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2). The outer VP4 and VP7 capsid genes of the two South African G1P[8] strains had the highest nucleotide (amino acid) nt (aa) identities of 99.6-99.9% (99.1-100%) with the VP4 and the VP7 genes of a locally circulating South African strain, RVA/Human-wt/ZAF/MRC-DPRU1039/2008/G1P[8]. All the internal backbone genes (VP1-VP3, VP6, and NSP1-NSP5) had the highest nt (aa) identities with cognate internal genes of another locally circulating South African strain, RVA/Human-wt/ZAF/MRC-DPRU2344/2008/G2P[6]. The two study strains emerged through reassortment mechanism involving locally circulating South African strains, as they were distinctly unrelated to other reported atypical G1P[8] strains. The identification of these G1P[8] double-gene reassortants during the pre-vaccination period strongly supports natural RVA evolutionary mechanisms of the RVA genome. There is a need to maintain long-term whole-genome surveillance to monitor such atypical strains.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	atypical strains, genome constellation, reassortment, rotavirus, whole-genome characterization
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2021 09:25
Last Modified:	03 Feb 2024 08:50
DOI:	10.3390/pathogens9050391
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9050391
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3126706