Sequence of the VP7 Gene of an Atypical Human Rotavirus: Evidence for Genetic and Antigenic Drift

Abstract

Sequence data reported in this paper have been deposited in the EMBL database and assigned the accession no. X99126.

The nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the outer capsid glycoprotein, VP7, isolated from a reassortant human rotavirus, M3014, was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited significant identity to the VP7 from a standard strain belonging to serotype G4, although the antigenic regions of the M3014 VP7 resembled sequences from both serotype G4 and G9 viruses. However, reactivity with G4 or G9 serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies was not observed. We suggest that the M3014 VP7 was derived from sequential mutation of a G4-like progenitor gene resulting in a protein with novel antigenic properties.

Key Words:

• Antigenic variation
• epidemiology
• gene mutation
• rotavirus VP7