Whole Genomic Analysis of an Unusual Human G6P[14] Rotavirus Strain Isolated from a Child with Diarrhea in Thailand: Evidence for Bovine-To-Human Interspecies Transmission and Reassortment Events

PLoS One. 2015 Sep 30;10(9):e0139381. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139381. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

An unusual rotavirus strain, SKT-27, with the G6P[14] genotypes (RVA/Human-wt/THA/SKT-27/2012/G6P[14]), was identified in a stool specimen from a hospitalized child aged eight months with severe diarrhea. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete genome of strain SKT-27. On whole genomic analysis, strain SKT-27 was found to have a unique genotype constellation: G6-P[14]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3. The non-G/P genotype constellation of this strain (I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3) is commonly shared with rotavirus strains from artiodactyls such as cattle. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that nine of the 11 genes of strain SKT-27 (VP7, VP4, VP6, VP2-3, NSP1, NSP3-5) appeared to be of artiodactyl (likely bovine) origin, while the remaining VP1 and NSP2 genes were assumed to be of human origin. Thus, strain SKT-27 was found to have a bovine rotavirus genetic backbone, and thus is likely to be of bovine origin. Furthermore, strain SKT-27 appeared to be derived through interspecies transmission and reassortment events involving bovine and human rotavirus strains. Of note is that the VP7 gene of strain SKT-27 was located in G6 lineage-5 together with those of bovine rotavirus strains, away from the clusters comprising other G6P[14] strains in G6 lineages-2/6, suggesting the occurrence of independent bovine-to-human interspecies transmission events. To our knowledge, this is the first report on full genome-based characterization of human G6P[14] strains that have emerged in Southeast Asia. Our observations will provide important insights into the origin of G6P[14] strains, and into dynamic interactions between human and bovine rotavirus strains.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Diarrhea / virology*
  • Feces / virology
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Phylogeny
  • Reassortant Viruses / classification*
  • Reassortant Viruses / genetics
  • Reassortant Viruses / physiology
  • Rotavirus / classification*
  • Rotavirus / genetics
  • Rotavirus / physiology
  • Rotavirus Infections / genetics*
  • Rotavirus Infections / transmission*
  • Rotavirus Infections / virology
  • Thailand

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by the MEXT-Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private Universities, 2010-2014 (KT), Grants-in-Aid for Research on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan (KT), and the Original Rotavirus Vaccine Effectiveness Study Program from the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand (SS). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.