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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2003, p. 2088-2095, Vol. 41, No. 5
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.5.2088-2095.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Genetic Characterization of a Novel, Naturally Occurring Recombinant Human G6P[6] Rotavirus

Mustafizur Rahman, Karolien De Leener, Truus Goegebuer, Elke Wollants, Ingrid Van der Donck, Lieve Van Hoovels, and Marc Van Ranst^*

Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium

Received 1 August 2002/ Returned for modification 7 October 2002/ Accepted 29 January 2003

A binary classification system has been established for group A rotaviruses, with the viral capsid protein VP7 defining G types and VP4 defining P types. At least 15 G types and 21 P types have been isolated globally with various G and P combinations. Most of the currently circulating human rotaviruses belong to G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], and G4P[8]. We report a human rotavirus strain (B1711) with a novel genotypic VP7/VP4 combination of G6P[6]. This unique rotavirus was isolated from a 13-month-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- negative child of an HIV-seropositive Malian mother that was hospitalized with severe diarrhea in Belgium after returning from a trip to Mali. The VP7 and VP4 genes of the rotavirus strain were sequenced, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparisons with 15 known G genotypes indicated that the VP7 sequence of strain B1711 was most closely related to an American (Se584) and an Italian (PA151) human G6 strain (95 to 96% nucleotide and 98% amino acid identity). Comparison of the VP4 sequence with 21 P types showed the closest similarity to P[6] genotypes, with greatest similarity to a G8P[6] Malawi strain (mw131) (97% nucleotide and 98% amino acid identity). The B1711 strain is the first reported rotavirus isolate with a G6P[6] genotypic combination. The discovery and surveillance of novel human and nonhuman rotavirus G or P types or of novel G/P combinations is essential for the design of future rotavirus vaccines and for our understanding of rotavirus diversity and evolution.

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* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Minderbroedersstraat 10, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Phone: 32-16-347908. Fax: 32-16-332131. E-mail: marc.vanranst{at}uz.kuleuven.ac.be.

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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2003, p. 2088-2095, Vol. 41, No. 5
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.5.2088-2095.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

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