Cultivation of human rotaviruses in cell culture

Abstract

Sixteen specimens of faeces from children with acute diarrhoea due to rotavirus were inoculated into MA-104 cells. Rotaviruses present in six of the specimens were successfully adapted to growth after serial passage. Two of these strains had "short RNA" patterns and had caused epidemics of diarrhoea in children in Melbourne, Australia from 1977 to 1979, or in children in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea in 1979. The remaining four strains had "long RNA" patterns. One of these four strains was of major epidemiological importance as a cause of childhood diarrhoea in Melbourne during 1981. The other three strains appeared identical and were isolated from babies born in a Melbourne obstetric hospital during 1977. All six strains were successfully adapted to stationary culture, but only four strains could be plaqued . Selection of strains of rotavirus for culture on the basis of their known epidemiological importance in different communities will increase information about clinically important strains throughout the world.

Amino acids involved in distinguishing between monotypes of rotavirus G serotypes 2 and 4

“…The human G2 rotaviruses RV-5 and RV-6 were isolated in Melbourne (Albert & Bishop, 1984). The origins of human G4 rotaviruses ST-3, VA70, Hosokawa (Hoso) and human G2 rotaviruses DS-1 and $2, have been described (Coulson et al, 1986).…”

G8Rotavirus Strains Isolated in the Democratic Republic of Congo Belong to the DS-1-Like Genogroup

“…Genomic comparison of these two African G8 strains revealed that 10 out of their 11 gene segments, except for VP4, were nearly identical (>98.9% identical at the nucleotide level), suggesting that this rare G8P [8] rotavirus strain originated recently from a reassortment between a common G8P [6] strain and a strain with a P[8] specificity. A very close evolutionary relationship between 9 out of the 11 gene segments of DRC88 and DRC86 and rotavirus strains belonging to the DS-1-like (G2P [4]) "genogroup" was found, and several possible reassortment events preceding the occurrence of G8P [8] and G8P [6] human rotaviruses were hypothesized. Since the genes of G2P [4] rotavirus strains are very well adapted to infect humans, the acquirement of a new VP7 (G8) gene, and especially the replacement of P [6] (believed to be of animal origin) by P [8] (most common in human rotaviruses), might make DRC88-like rotaviruses very well equipped to become a predominant human rotavirus strain and an important pathogen on the African continent and the rest of the world.…”

“…A very close evolutionary relationship between 9 out of the 11 gene segments of DRC88 and DRC86 and rotavirus strains belonging to the DS-1-like (G2P [4]) "genogroup" was found, and several possible reassortment events preceding the occurrence of G8P [8] and G8P [6] human rotaviruses were hypothesized. Since the genes of G2P [4] rotavirus strains are very well adapted to infect humans, the acquirement of a new VP7 (G8) gene, and especially the replacement of P [6] (believed to be of animal origin) by P [8] (most common in human rotaviruses), might make DRC88-like rotaviruses very well equipped to become a predominant human rotavirus strain and an important pathogen on the African continent and the rest of the world. These findings have important implications for rotavirus vaccine development and highlight that typing of new rotavirus strains by merely sequencing their VP7 and VP4 genes provides us with only the tip of the iceberg regarding rotavirus diversity.…”

Sequences of VP6 genes of human rotavirus strain RV3 and its vaccine derivative

“…The human rotavirus strain RV3 (serotype G3P6, subgroup II), was isolated from a neonate with asymptomatic infection in Melbourne, Australia, in 1977 (Albert & Bishop, 1984). This virus is believed to be naturally attenuated and is representative of a strain endemic in an obstetric hospital nursery that protected against clinically severe disease on reinfection (Bishop et al, 1983).…”