The origins of G12P[6] rotavirus strains detected in Lebanon

Abstract

The G12 rotaviruses are an increasingly important cause of severe diarrhoea in infants and young children worldwide. Seven human G12P[6] rotavirus strains were detected in stool samples from children hospitalized with gastroenteritis in Lebanon during a 2011–2013 surveillance study. Complete genomes of these strains were sequenced using VirCapSeq-VERT, a capture-based high-throughput viral-sequencing method, and further characterized based on phylogenetic analyses with global RVA and vaccine strains. Based on the complete genomic analysis, all Lebanese G12 strains were found to have Wa-like genetic backbone G12-P[6]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1. Phylogenetically, these strains fell into two clusters where one of them might have emerged from Southeast Asian strains and the second one seems to have a mixed backbone between North American and Southeast Asian strains. Further analysis of these strains revealed high antigenic variability compared to available vaccine strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the complete genome-based characterization of G12P[6] emerging in Lebanon. Additional studies will provide important insights into the evolutionary dynamics of G12 rotaviruses spreading in Asia.

Full genome characterization of a human‐porcine reassortment G12P[7] rotavirus and its pathogenicity in piglets

“…Following activation, the VP4 spike protein is cleaved into VP5* and VP8*. The VP8* fragment forms a globular head, and VP5* forms the stalk domain (Reslan et al., 2021). VP8* and VP5* contain four (8‐1 to 8‐4) and five (5‐1 to 5‐5) surface‐exposed antigenic epitopes, respectively (Table 3).…”

“…The VP7 protein consists of two antigenic epitopes: 7‐1 (7‐1a and 7‐1b) and 7‐2 (Reslan et al., 2021). Among them, 23 residues were conserved among lineages I‐V; 6 residues were variable and dispersed at 7‐1 and 7‐2 (Table 4).…”

“…The P‐types of the G12 strains reported mainly focus on either P[6] or P[8] and less commonly on the P[4] or P[9] genotype (Reslan et al., 2021). RV G12 strains have been increasingly detected globally, becoming the sixth major human G genotype (Reslan et al., 2021). To date, only the porcine G12P[7] strain RU172 has been detected in 2006 in India (Ghosh et al., 2006).…”

“…Subsequently, G12 infection cases have exhibited global spread and have been reported in some Asian countries [India (1999–2005), Bangladesh (2000–2005), Japan (2003) and Korea (2002–2003)], European countries [the United Kingdom (2002–2006) and Belgium (2003)], Latin American countries [Argentina (1999–2003) and Brazil (2004)] and the Middle East and North Africa [Saudi Arabia (2015), Yemen (2011), Iraq (2013), Iran (2016), Tunisia (2016–2017), Egypt (2009), Pakistan (2009) and Turkey (2017)] (Rahman et al., 2007; Reslan et al., 2021). The P‐types of the G12 strains reported mainly focus on either P[6] or P[8] and less commonly on the P[4] or P[9] genotype (Reslan et al., 2021). RV G12 strains have been increasingly detected globally, becoming the sixth major human G genotype (Reslan et al., 2021).…”

“…Since then, however, no further cases of G12 infection in humans or animals were reported until 1998-1999, when G12 strains were isolated in Thailand and the United States. Subsequently, G12 infection cases have exhibited global spread and have been reported in some Asian countries [India (1999[India ( -2005, Bangladesh (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005), Japan (2003) and Korea (2002Korea ( -2003], European countries [the United Kingdom (2002Kingdom ( -2006 and Belgium (2003)], Latin American countries [Argentina (1999[Argentina ( -2003 and Brazil (2004)] and the Middle East and North Africa [Saudi Arabia (2015), Yemen (2011), Iraq (2013), Iran (2016), Tunisia (2016-2017), Egypt (2009), Pakistan (2009 and Turkey (2017)] (Rahman et al, 2007;Reslan et al, 2021). The P-types of the G12 strains reported mainly focus on either P[6] or P[8] and less commonly on the P[4] or P[9] genotype (Reslan et al, 2021).…”