Genetic relatedness among human rotaviruses

Abstract

The genetic relatedness of 81 clinical rotavirus isolates to the human rotavirus prototype strains Wa (subgroup 2, serotype 1) and DS-1 (subgroup 1, serotype 2) was examined by RNA hybridization techniques. Labeled single-stranded (+) transcripts of Wa or DS-1 virus were incubated with denatured genomic rotaviral RNAs, and the resulting hybrids were subjected to gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Nineteen of the specimens contained subgroup 1 rotavirus with a "short" RNA migration pattern. These viruses were found to be closely related to the DS-1 strain and were associated with illness of short duration. The remaining 62 isolates belonged to subgroup 2 and exhibited a "long" RNA migration pattern. Fifty-four of these isolates exhibited significant hybridization with the Wa strain probe. Four isolates yielded multiple hybrid bands with the Wa probe but also possessed at least one gene segment homologous to the DS-1 strain. The remaining four subgroup 2 rotaviruses did not exhibit significant homology in the form of labeled hybrid bands when tested with either the Wa or DS-1 probe. These findings suggest that most clinical rotavirus isolates belong to one of two human rotavirus "families" defined as Wa-like or DS-1-like. Our observations also suggest that reassortment occurs in vivo between rotaviruses belonging to the two human rotavirus "families" and that there are one or more additional families of human rotavirus.

Relative Prevalence of Typical and Atypical Strains among Rotaviruses from Diarrheic Pigs in Conventional Swine Herds

“…Variation in genome profile does not always correlate with antigenic variation or with variation in nucleotide sequence. 7,9,12 An early study on reovirus indicated a single base change within an RNA segment resulted in a detectable change in the migration of that segment. 13 Conversely, segments with different nucleotide sequences may exhibit similar electrophoretic mobilities.…”

“…13 Conversely, segments with different nucleotide sequences may exhibit similar electrophoretic mobilities. 7,12,28 Correlation of electropherotype and serotype in porcine rotaviruses has been hampered by technical prob- Table 3. Variation in migration pattern in each RNA genome segment of field viruses as compared with the migration of corresponding segments of prototype OSU and Gottfried porcine rotaviruses in coelectrophoresis.…”

Molecular epidemiology of human rotaviruses: Analysis of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in Glasgow and the west of Scotland 1981/82 and 1982/83

“…Cocirculation of different electropherotypes or replacement of one by another have been found in many parts of the world (Espejo et al 1980;Rodger et al 1981;Schnagl, Rodger & Holmes, 1981;Lourenco et al 1981;Flores et al 1982;Pereira et al 1983;Follett & Desselberger, 1983 a). At present it is not quite clear how these differences emerge and what their significance is.…”

“…RNA migration patterns ('electropherotypes', Rodger et al 1981, Schnagl, Rodger & Holmes, 1981; 'electrophoretypes', Thouless, Beards & Flewett, 1982) can thus be determined. Rotaviruses of different RNA migration pattern were isolated from infected children in different areas of the world either sequentially Schnagl, Rodger & Holmes, 1981) or at the same time (Espejo et al 1980;Rodger et al 1981;Flores et al 1982;Follett & Desselberger, 1983a).…”

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of a Serotype 9 Human Rotavirus Strain

“…We have recently shown that human rotaviruses can be placed together in terms of their gene homology and have proposed to term such genetic classifications of rotaviruses "genogroup" (15) instead of "family" (3,4), so that the classification can conform to the taxonomic hierarchy. Thus, it was recently shown by RNA-RNA hybridization that human rotaviruses fall into any one of three distinct genogroups (13) ; i.e., the first genogroup that includes strains related to the Wa strain (serotype 1, subgroup II, long RNA electropherotype) ; the second genogroup that includes strains related to the DS-1 strain (serotype 2, subgroup I, short RNA electropherotype) ; and the third genogroup that includes strains related to the AU-1 strain (serotype 3, subgroup I, long RNA electropherotype).…”