Rotavirus genotypes co-circulating in Europe between 2006 and 2009 as determined by EuroRotaNet, a pan-European collaborative strain surveillance network

Abstract

SUMMARYEuroRotaNet, a laboratory network, was established in order to determine the diversity of co-circulating rotavirus strains in Europe over three or more rotavirus seasons from 2006/2007 and currently includes 16 countries. This report highlights the tremendous diversity of rotavirus strains co-circulating in the European population during three years of surveillance since 2006/ 2007 and points to the possible origins of these strains including genetic reassortment and interspecies transmission. Furthermore, the ability of the network to identify strains circulating with an incidence of o1% allowed the identification of possible emerging strains such as G8 and G12 since the beginning of the study ; analysis of recent data indicates their increased incidence.

Vaccine preventable viral diseases and risks associated with waterborne transmission

“…Genotyping is considered to be a valid proxy for serotyping, and is adopted universally. As a result, a large amount of data is being accumulated concerning rotavirus genotypes and serotypes circulating worldwide [10,11], which is valuable to confirm the adequacy of current vaccines in relation to emergence and evolution of viral strains [12,13]. Currently, at least 27 different G-types and 35 P-types are recognized among human or animal worldwide [14], and increasing evidence of zoonotic transmission of animal rotaviruses to humans, involving reassortment mechanisms during dual infection, has strengthened the threat of novel rotavirus strains emergence from domestic and wild animals with respect to vaccine efficacy [15].…”

Tandem truncated rotavirus VP8* subunit protein with T cell epitope as non-replicating parenteral vaccine is highly immunogenic

“…43 In addition, extensive global epidemiological surveys have confirmed that G1-G4 as well as P [8] and P [4] genotypic strains are of global epidemiologic importance. 43,44 It is of note that uncommon G and P types causing a high incidence of human infection have been reported in various regions worldwide including G8, G9, G10, G12, and P [6]. [45][46][47][48][49] Since in nature, almost all human rotavirus G types have been detected in combination with P [8], P [4] or P [6] specificity, the P2-P[8]DVP8*-P [8]DVP8* and P2-P[8]DVP8*-P[6]DVP8* vaccines generated in this study could be used at a minimum singly or preferably in bivalent formulation to provide antigenic coverage against almost all the rotavirus G (VP7) types and the 2 major P types of global as well as regional epidemiologic importance, including new and emerging G8, G9 and G12 rotaviruses.…”

Genomic characterization and molecular investigation of VP7 epitopes of uncommon G10P[8] group A rotavirus strains detected in Italy in 2009

“…Amongst the uncommon RVA reported worldwide, particular attention is given to animal-derived genotypes that may become able to infect the human host, such as RVA strains displaying G6, G9 and G10 genotypes (Libonati et al, 2014;Luchs & Timenetsky, 2014;Matsushima et al, 2012;Mijatovic-Rustempasic et al, 2014;Mukherjee et al, 2012). Some of these are candidates to become major human genotypes, as was previously observed for the G9 genotype (Gentsch et al, 2009;Iturriza-Gó mara et al, 2011;Matthijnssens et al, 2010;Santos & Hoshino, 2005), and might represent a challenge for the efficacy of current anti-rotavirus vaccines, posing a need for RVA strain surveillance programmes (Banerjee et al, 2006;Iturriza-Gó mara et al, 2011).…”