The Genome Segments of a Group D Rotavirus Possess Group A-Like Conserved Termini but Encode Group-Specific Proteins

Abstract

Rotaviruses are a leading cause of viral acute gastroenteritis in humans and animals. They are grouped according to gene composition and antigenicity of VP6. Whereas group A, B, and C rotaviruses are found in humans and animals, group D rotaviruses have been exclusively detected in birds. Despite their broad distribution among chickens, no nucleotide sequence data exist so far. Here, the first complete genome sequence of a group D rotavirus (strain 05V0049) is presented, which was amplified using sequence-independent amplification strategies and degenerate primers. Open reading frames encoding homologues of rotavirus proteins VP1 to VP4, VP6, VP7, and NSP1 to NSP5 were identified. Amino acid sequence identities between the group D rotavirus and the group A, B, and C rotaviruses varied between 12.3% and 51.7%, 11.0% and 23.1%, and 9.5% and 46.9%, respectively. Segment 10 of the group D rotavirus has an additional open reading frame. Generally, phylogenetic analysis indicated a common evolution of group A, C, and D rotaviruses, separate from that of group B. However, the NSP4 sequence of group C has only very low identities in comparison with cogent sequences of all other groups. The avian group A NSP1 sequences are more closely related to those of group D than those of mammalian group A rotaviruses. Most interestingly, the nucleotide sequences at the termini of the 11 genome segments are identical between group D and group A rotaviruses. Further investigations should clarify whether these conserved structures allow an exchange of genome segments between group A and group D rotaviruses.Rotaviruses are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children (22,32,54,55). They are also etiological agents of diarrhea in several mammalian and avian species (7,9,10,39,52,65,75). Rotaviruses belong to the family Reoviridae and have a nonenveloped viral capsid containing a genome of 11 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) segments (21, 62). The outer layer of the virus particle is formed by VP4 and VP7 proteins, which possess neutralization antigens. The intermediate layer consists of VP6, a conserved protein, which defines the rotavirus groups. The inner layer is formed by VP2 surrounding a complex of VP1 and VP3, which represent the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the guanylyl transferase, respectively (12, 60), and the viral genomic RNAs. In addition, at least five nonstructural proteins are encoded by the rotavirus genome and have diverse functions, e.g

Avian rotavirus enteritis – an updated review

“…In poultry, these are clustered to groups A, D, F and G (Otto et al 2006;Trojnar et al 2010;Johne et al 2011). The RVA are mainly associated with diarrhea in humans, various domesticated and captive mammals, and poultry (Matthijnssens et al 2008;Matthijnssens & Van Ranst 2012).…”

Residues of the Rotavirus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Template Entry Tunnel That Mediate RNA Recognition and Genome Replication

“…Gel shift assays have shown that the UGUG residues of the 3ЈCSϩ are important for VP1 binding (43). VP1 residues involved in sequence-dependent interactions are generally conserved among RVs that contain a UGUG sequence in the 3ЈCSϩ (group A, C, and D strains), whereas residues involved in sequence-independent interactions are conserved among all known RV VP1 molecules (23,44). These observations suggest that the two groups of residues, sequence dependent and sequence independent, serve important, but perhaps distinct, functions.…”

Monitoring and molecular characterization of group Drotavirus in Brazilian poultry farms

“…Avian rotaviruses, their genetic variability and ability for interspecies transmission is very limited (Trojnar et al 2013), and the first complete genome sequence of a group D rotavirus has been determined in order to characterize the group D rotaviruses in more detail (Trojnar et al 2010).…”

“…In avian species, rotavirus groups A, D, F and G have been detected so far (McNulty et al 1980, McNulty 2008, Trojnar et al 2010. The group A rotaviruses (RVA) are mainly associated with diarrhea in humans, various domesticated and captive mammals, and poultry (Matthijnssens et al 2008, Matthijnssens & Van Ranst 2012.…”