Serologic responses by immunoblot following natural infection with rotavirus serotypes G1 and G4 in children

Serologic responses to proteins of rotavirus serotypes G1, P1A[8]; G2, P1B[4]; G3, P1A[8]; and G4, P2A[6] were evaluated by immunoblotting paired sera from 17 children with primary rotavirus infection. Ten children were infected with G1, P1A[8]; five with G4, P1A[8]; and two with G4, P2A[6] viruses. Anti-VP6 and anti-VP2 were seen in most responses. Homotypic anti-VP7 developed following G1 and G4 infections in 8 (80%) and 6 (86%) cases, respectively. Homotypic anti-VP4 developed in 9 (60%) cases following P1A[8] infection and in 0 of 2 cases following P2A[6] infection. Heterotypic anti-VP7 appeared against G4 (20%) and G3 (20%) following the 10 G1 infections, and against G3 (86%) and G1 (57%) following the 7 G4 infections. Heterotypic anti-VP4 occurred in only 3 (18%) children. The data show the antigenic predominance of internal proteins VP6 and VP2. Homotypic antibodies developed against VP7 but not against VP4 in most cases, while heterotypic antibodies were infrequent. J. Med. Virol. 56:52–57, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.