Rearrangement generated in double genes, NSP1 and NSP3, of viable progenies from a human rotavirus strain

We generated rotavirus clones with rearrangement in vitro by serial passages of a human rotavirus strain (IGV-80-3) at high multiplicity of infection and determined nucleotide sequences of the rearranged genes from two distinct rotavirus clones, each of which possesses two rearranged genes: a common rearranged NSP1 gene and NSP3 gene with slightly different migration in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Sequence analysis showed that the rearranged NSP1 and NSP3 genes had similar gene structures: concatemerization in a head to tail orientation and partial duplication of the open reading frame following the termination codon. The rearranged NSP1 gene had a direct repeat, whereas in the rearranged NSP3 gene, no such pattern was found.     

新的成人腹泻轮状病毒J19株NSP4和NSP5基因克隆和序列分析

目的克隆新的成人腹泻轮状病毒J19株NSP4和NSP5基因,并分析其基因序列.方法利用一种改进的非依赖核酸序列的单引物扩增方法扩增J19株NSP4和NSP5基因,克隆到pMD18-T载体中并进行测序.在此基础上,将J19株NSP4和NSP5的蛋白序列与其他轮状病毒蛋白序列进行比较分析和种系进化分析.结果J19株NSP4和NSP5基因为基因10和11,全长为739 bp和649 bp,它们分别编码213个和176个氨基酸.与J19株NSP4和NSP5蛋白序列一致性较高的分别是B组成人腹泻轮状病毒Bang373株（20.3%）和B组猪轮状病毒db101株（29.5%）.对J19株的NSP4和NSP5的遗传进化分析表明,J19株在进化树上的位置都靠近A、B和C组轮状病毒分支的根部,而且它比较偏向B组轮状病毒的分支.结论J19株的NSP4和NSP5与其他轮状病毒的相应蛋白序列存在显著差异.J19株NSP4和NSP5的蛋白序列比较和遗传进化分析表明新的成人腹泻轮状病毒与成人腹泻轮状病毒可能有共同起源;但是新的成人腹泻轮状病毒与成人腹泻轮状病毒存在显著差异.     

Evaluation of IFN-gamma response to rotavirus and non-structural protein NSP4 of rotavirus in children following severe rotavirus diarrhea

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus (RV) is the commonest cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. However the natural immune mechanisms controlling and preventing rotavirus disease in humans are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To examine cellular immune responses to whole rotavirus (vaccine strain, 116E) and non-structural protein-4 (116E-NSP4) in children during natural rotavirus-infection. STUDY DESIGN: Gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) responses were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunospot assay in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from children with RV (n=26) or non-RV (n=10) gastroenteritis and from RV-exposed adults (n=10). Additionally, IL-4 responses were assessed in 5 of the 10 adults and 6 of 26 RV-infected children. RESULTS: IFN-gamma secreting cells specific to whole RV were detected in 68% of RV-positive children and to NSP4 in 43% of these children between 4 and 30 days of illness onset. IFN-gamma responses were transient and were found higher in RV-exposed adults than in children (P<0.05). Within the RV-positive group, IFN-gamma responses in children with prior RV-exposure were higher than children without prior exposure (P<0.05). The response to whole RV and NSP4 were positively correlated (P<0.01, r(s)=0.66). CONCLUSIONS: Significant IFN-gamma responses to rotavirus candidate vaccine strain 116E were detected in children during natural RV-infection and in RV-exposed adults. Significant IFN-gamma responses to NSP4 were also observed in these study groups.     

Molecular characterization of a human rotavirus reveals porcine characteristics in most of the genes including VP6 and NSP4

Summary. Long electropherotype with Subgroup I specificity is a common feature of animal rotaviruses. In an epidemic of infantile gastroenteritis in Manipur, India, long but SG I strains predominated in the outbreak in the year 1987–88. One such strain isolated from that region, following the outbreak had G9P [19] specificity. As this is a rare combination, the gene sequences encoding VP4, VP6, VP7, NSP1, NSP2, NSP3, NSP4 and NSP5 of this strain were analyzed. All these genes except VP7 were closely related to porcine rotaviruses (95–99% identity at amino acid level) and clustered with the porcine strains in phylogenetic analysis. In addition, it had subgroup I nature and belonged to NSP4 genotype B which is characteristic of animal rotaviruses. This is the first report of a rotavirus with VP6 and NSP4, two crucial proteins thought to be involved in host range restriction and pathogenicity, were of porcine origin and caused diarrhoea in a human host. Among the genes of this strain sequenced so far, only VP7 had highest identity to human strains at amino acid level. This study suggests reassortment may be occurring between human and other animal strains and some of the reassortant viruses may be virulent to humans.     

Molecular characterization of a human rotavirus reveals porcine characteristics in most of the genes including VP6 and NSP4

Long electropherotype with Subgroup I specificity is a common feature of animal rotaviruses. In an epidemic of infantile gastroenteritis in Manipur, India, long but SG I strains predominated in the outbreak in the year 1987-88. One such strain isolated from that region, following the outbreak had G9P [19] specificity. As this is a rare combination, the gene sequences encoding VP4, VP6, VP7, NSP1, NSP2, NSP3, NSP4 and NSP5 of this strain were analyzed. All these genes except VP7 were closely related to porcine rotaviruses (95-99% identity at amino acid level) and clustered with the porcine strains in phylogenetic analysis. In addition, it had subgroup I nature and belonged to NSP4 genotype B which is characteristic of animal rotaviruses. This is the first report of a rotavirus with VP6 and NSP4, two crucial proteins thought to be involved in host range restriction and pathogenicity, were of porcine origin and caused diarrhoea in a human host. Among the genes of this strain sequenced so far, only VP7 had highest identity to human strains at amino acid level. This study suggests reassortment may be occurring between human and other animal strains and some of the reassortant viruses may be virulent to humans.     

Molecular characterization of the VP1, VP2, VP4, VP6, NSP1 and NSP2 genes of bovine group B rotaviruses: identification of a novel VP4 genotype

Studies on bovine group B rotaviruses (GBRs) are limited. To date, only the VP6 gene of a single bovine GBR strain and the VP7 and NSP5 genes of a few bovine GBR strains have been sequenced and analyzed. In the present study, using a single-primer amplification method, we have determined the full-length nucleotide sequences of the VP1, VP2, VP4, VP6, NSP1 and NSP2 genes of three bovine GBR strains from eastern India. In all six of these genes, the bovine GBR strains shared high genetic relatedness among themselves but exhibited high genetic diversity with cognate genes of human, murine and ovine GBRs. Interestingly, as with group A rotaviruses, the bovine GBR VP1, VP2, VP6 and NSP2 genes appeared to be more conserved than the VP4 and NSP1 genes among strains of different species. The present study provides important insights into the genetic makeup and diversity of bovine GBRs, and also identifies a novel GBR VP4 genotype.     

新成人腹泻轮状病毒J19株NSP1、NSP2和NSP3基因序列分析

目的 克隆新成人腹泻轮状病毒J19株三个非结构蛋白NSP1、NSP2和NSP3基因，并分析其基因序列。方法 利用一种改进的非依赖核酸序列的单引物扩增方法扩增J19株三个基因，克隆到pMD18-T载体中并进行测序。在此基础上，将J19株的NSP1、NSP2和NSP3的蛋白序列与其他轮状病毒蛋白序列进行比较分析和种系进化分析。结果J19株的NSP1、NSP2和NSP3基因为基因5、7和8，它们的全长1307个、1004个和932个核苷酸，编码395个、297个和262个氨基酸。与J19株的NSP1、NSP2和NSP3蛋白序列一致性较高的分别是B组轮状病毒KB63株（26．3％）、WH1株（46．6％）和IDIR株（29．6％）。对J19株的NSP1、NSP2和NSP3的遗传进化分析表明，J19株在进化树上的位置都靠近A、B和C组轮状病毒分支的根部，而且它比较偏向于B组轮状病毒的分支。结论 J19株的NSPI、NSP2和NSP3与其他轮状病毒的相应蛋白序列存在显著差异。J19株NSP1、NSP2、NSP3的蛋白序列比较和遗传进化分析表明新成人腹泻轮状病毒与成人腹泻轮状病毒可能有共同起源；但是新成人腹泻轮状病毒与成人腹泻轮状病毒存在显著差异。     

Functional analysis of the heterologous NSP1 genes in the genetic background of simian rotavirus SA11&

Summary.  Function of rotavirus NSP1 was analyzed by using single-NSP1 gene-substitution reassortants, SKF, SDF, and SNF which have the NSP1 gene derived from human rotaviruses KU, DS-1, and canine rotavirus K9, respectively, in the genetic background of simian rotavirus SA11. The NSP1 genes from KU, DS-1, K9, and SA11 exhibited 58–76% nucleotide sequence identity to one another. No substantial difference in viral growth was observed among the reassortants and SA11. However, production of NSP1 was not detected in SNF when viral proteins were labelled with ³⁵S-methionine during replication in MA104 cells, in contrast to SA11, SKF and SDF which exhibited evident expression of NSP1. Difference in reassortant formation was examined among the reassortant clones generated between human rotavirus strain 69M and either of SA11, SKF or SNF. Although reassortant formation rate was significantly lower in the cross 69M × SNF than the other crosses, selection rates of RNA segments from parent strain 69M in the resultant reassortants was similar among the crosses. Selectivity of homolog- ous and heterologous NSP1 genes in SA11 background was also analyzed by mixed infection and multiple passages among the single-NSP1 gene-reassortants and/or SA11. KU NSP1 gene was selected most frequently, whereas homologous (SA11) NSP1 gene was least efficiently segregated. These results indicated that viral growth and genome segment reassortment with other viruses may not be influenced by the presence of heterologous NSP1 and its expression level, while genomic diversity of NSP1 genes might have been associated with the relative adaptability to the genetic background of SA11. Accepted February 22, 1999     

Detection of a porcine rotavirus strain with VP4, VP7 and NSP4 genes of different animal origins

A new rotavirus strain, sh0902, was detected in diarrheic piglets on a farm in Shanghai, China, and its genotype was characterized as G1P[7]. Analysis of the VP4, VP7 and NSP4 genes demonstrated VP4 homology to bovine and swine rotavirus strains; the nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) identities were 99.7% and 99.5%, respectively. The VP7 gene was highly homologous to that of a giant panda rotavirus strain, with 98.5% similarity at the nt level and 99% similarity at the aa level. The nucleotide sequence of the NSP4 gene displayed high homology to human rotavirus strain R479, with 99.7% identity at the nt level and 99.3% identity at the aa level. This is the first report of an unusual porcine rotavirus strain with VP4, VP7 and NSP4 genes that are highly homologous to bovine, swine, giant panda and human strains isolated at geographically distant sites (South Korea, China and India). Our data indicate that rotaviruses have circulated among humans and animals and undergone genome reassortment.     

人轮状病毒NSP4蛋白131和133位氨基酸变异对毒力影响的研究

目的研究两株A组人轮状病毒NSP4蛋白131位和133位氨基酸位点的变异对毒力的影响。方法从昆明地区2002年和2005年秋冬季婴幼儿腹泻流行期不同程度腹泻患儿中分离得到两株轮状病毒流行株02k38和05k44,RT-PCR扩增NSP4全长基因,进行cDNA序列测序。通过pGEX-5X-1载体,转化E.coliBL21以谷胱苷肽S-转移酶融合蛋白的形式表达两株病毒的NSP4蛋白C-端86～170位氨基酸（GST-NSP486-170）;并酶切融合头纯化得到两种NSP486-170蛋白,在ICR乳鼠中比较这两种蛋白致小鼠腹泻的差异。结果两种NSP486-170蛋白毒性无差异。结论两株轮状病毒131位和133位氨基酸位点的变异不影响毒力的改变,其致腹泻活性没有明显差异（P〉0.05）。     

Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies against rotavirus NSP4 enterotoxin generated by phage display

The rotavirus non-structural NSP4 protein causes membrane destabilization as well as an increase in intracellular calcium levels in eukaryotic cells and induces diarrhea in young mice, acting as a viral enterotoxin. In this study the phage display technique was used to generate a panel of single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies specific for the NSP4 protein of the human rotavirus strain Wa from a human semi-synthetic scFv library. After several rounds of panning and selection on NSP4 adsorbed to polystyrene tubes, individual scFv were isolated and characterised by fingerprinting and by sequencing the VH and VL genes. The isolated scFv antibodies specifically recognize NSP4 in enzyme immunoassay and in Western blot. Four truncated forms of the NSP4 protein were constructed which allowed us to map the binding region of the selected scFv antibodies to the C-terminal portion of NSP4. The isolated scFv antibodies constitute valuable tools to analyse the mechanisms of NSP4 functions.     

Conserved structural features of nonstructural glycoprotein NSP4 between group A and group C rotaviruses

Summary.  The nonstructural glycoprotein NSP4 of group C human rotavirus strain Ehime 9301 was determined to be 150 amino acids in length and 96% identical with the NSP4 of another group C human rotavirus strain Bristol. Both NSP4 sequences were virtually unrelated to group A rotavirus NSP4s. However, the structural features of group A and group C rotavirus NSP4s were similar with hydrophobic domains being in the amino terminus and a coiled coil domain after the membrane-spanning domain, although group C rotavirus NSP4 lacked one amino-terminal hydrophobic domain. Received January 10, 1997 Accepted April 24, 1997     

Genetic variation of NSP1 and NSP4 genes among serotype G9 rotaviruses causing hospitalization of children in Melbourne, Australia, 1997-2002

Serotype G9 rotaviruses have emerged as one of the leading causes of gastroenteritis in children worldwide. We examined 29 representative G9 rotavirus isolates from a 6-year collection (1997-2002) and determined the level of variation in genes encoding non-structural proteins, NSP1 and NSP4. Northern hybridization analysis with a whole genome probe derived from the prototype G9 strain, F45, revealed that the NSP1 gene (gene 5) of two isolates (R1 and R14) did not exhibit significant homology. Complementary DNA probes of R1 and R14 genes 5 were used in Northern blot hybridization and indicated the presence of at least two gene 5 alleles among Melbourne G9 rotaviruses. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that isolates carrying the R14 gene 5 shared 94-98% sequence identities with one another, while sequence identity to R1 was 78%. Surprisingly, R1 displayed 96% nucleotide identity with the prototype serotype G1 strain, Wa. The detection of different alleles of NSP1 genes prompted us to investigate the level of variation in another non-structural protein, NSP4, a multifunctional protein and the first viral-encoded enterotoxin. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that while all isolates clustered into one group containing the Wa NSP4 allele (genotype 1), isolate R1 was most closely related to Wa. This study reveals new information about the diversity of non-structural proteins of G9 rotaviruses.     

Molecular characterization of VP4, VP6, VP7, NSP4, and NSP5/6 genes identifies an unusual G3P[10] human rotavirus strain

An unusual strain of human rotavirus G3P[10] (CMH079/05) was detected in a stool sample of a 2‐year‐old child admitted to the hospital with severe diarrhea in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Analysis of the VP7 gene sequence revealed highest identities with unusual human rotavirus G3 strain CMH222 at 98.7% on the nucleotide and 99.6% on the amino acid levels. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 sequence confirmed that the CMH079/05 strain formed a cluster with G3 rotavirus reference strains and showed the closest lineage with the CMH222 strain. Analysis of partial VP4 gene of CMH079/05 revealed highest degree of sequence identities with P[10] rotavirus prototype strain 69M at nucleotide and amino acid levels of 92.9% and 94.6%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP4 sequence revealed that CMH079/05 and 69M clustered closely together in a monophyletic branch separated from other rotavirus genotypes. To our knowledge, this is a novel G–P combination of G3 and P[10] genotypes. In addition, analyses of VP6, NSP4, and NSP5/6 genes revealed these uncommon genetic characteristics: (i) the VP6 gene differed from the four other known subgroups; (ii) the NSP4 gene was identified as NSP4 genetic group C, an uncommon group in humans; and (iii) the NSP5/6 gene was most closely related with T152, a G12P[9] rotavirus previously isolated in Thailand. The finding of uncommon G3P[10] rotavirus in this pediatric patient provided additional evidence of the genetic diversity of human group A rotaviruses in Chiang Mai, Thailand. J. Med. Virol. 81:176–182, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Sequence Analysis of the NSP4 Gene from Human Rotavirus Strains Isolated in the United States

Two major and one minor genotype of the rotavirus NSP4 gene have been described. The sequences of 29 NSP4 genes from rotavirus isolates obtained in the United States during the 1996–1997 rotavirus season (types P[8]G1, P[8]G9, P[4]G2 and P[6]G9) and 10 strains isolated during previous rotavirus seasons (types P[8]G1 and P[4]G2) were determined. All NSP4 genes from strains with short E types (6 P[4]G2, 4 P[6]G9) belonged to genotype NSP4A, whereas all 19 strains with long E types (16 P[8]G1, 3 P[8]G9) had NSP4 genes of genotype NSP4B. Genetic variation within genotypes was low (2.3% for both NSP4A and NSP4B), confirming that the NSP4 genes are highly conserved. Nonetheless, at least two distinct sub-lineages could be detected within each genotype: strains isolated in the same year, regardless of geographic location, were more closely related or even identical at the deduced amino acid level; strains isolated in different years were more distinct. Thus, geographic distance did not affect genetic distance. Northern hybridization analysis with NSP4A and NSP4B total gene probes failed to detect any unusual combinations of the VP6 and NSP4 genes in 31 additional isolates from the 1996–1997 rotavirus season.     

Sequential analysis of nonstructural protein NSP4s derived from Group A avian rotaviruses

We determined the NSP4 sequences of turkey rotavirus strains Ty-1 and Ty-3 and a chicken rotavirus, strain Ch-1, and compared these sequences with those of a pigeon rotavirus, strain PO-13, and mammalian rotaviruses. The turkey strains and PO-13 were found to be closely related (90-97% homologies). Ch-1 NSP4 was distinctly different from other avian rotavirus NSP4s, with 78-79% homologies. The NSP4 sequences of avian rotaviruses were found to be 6-7 amino acids shorter than those of all mammalian strains and to have considerably low identities (31-37%) with them. Therefore, it seems highly likely that the NSP4 genes of avian rotaviruses are classified into two NSP4 genotypes distinct from those of mammalian rotaviruses. The enterotoxin domain in NSP4 is conserved in terms of its sequential and structural properties despite extremely low homologies in the full lengths of NSP4s in avian and mammalian rotaviruses.     

轮状病毒NSP1蛋白的泛素连接酶活性研究

目的 通过实验确证轮状病毒（Rotavirus,RV）非结构蛋白1（NSP1）的泛素连接酶活性,为阐明其在RV复制和致病机制中的作用提供线索.方法 将NSP1基因及其RING结构域缺失突变体构建到pEGFP-C1质粒上,与表达泛素的质粒pBlue-Script-HA-Ubiquitin共转染人胚肾293FT细胞,用免疫荧光和Western blot方法 确定蛋白的表达,并通过免疫共沉淀方法 分析蛋白的泛素化.结果 NSP1蛋白的表达可增加细胞内的泛素化水平,并且自身也发生泛素化.结论 NSP1蛋白具有E3泛素连接酶活性.可能在泛素化调控机制中发挥作用.     

A Human Vaccine Strain of Lamb Rotavirus (Chinese) NSP4 Gene: Complete Nucleotide Sequence and Phylogenetic Analyses

A lamb strain of rotavirus has recently been licensed for use in China as a live vaccine to prevent rotavirus diarrhea in children. As rotavirus NSP4, especially the cytotoxic domain alone is considered to be associated with diarrhea, we sequenced gene segment 10, which encodes NSP4, of lamb rotavirus. Comparative analyses was performed to identify differences from human rotavirus strains, that might be associated with attenuation, and to ascertain whether the lamb rotavirus gene fits among the NSP4 of other sequenced rotavirus strains. Our comparative nucleotide sequence analysis suggests its close identity (91.17% homology) with that of group-A equine rotavirus (strain HI23). Multiple alignment of the deduced amino acid sequence of lamb NSP4 with that of other group A rotaviruses demonstrated homology ranging from 63.42% with that of porcine YM strain to 93.71% with equine HI23 strain of rotavirus. A group A-specific NSP4 monoclonal antibody recognized the glycosylated and unglycosylated forms of the protein from virus-infected lysates, suggesting a well-conserved group-specificity of the lamb NSP4. Phylogenetic analysis of the lamb rotavirus gene, with 60 other NSP4 gene sequences of human and animal rotavirus strains, demonstrated that the lamb rotavirus strain belongs to genotype A. Comparative analysis also revealed that although it is a vaccine strain, the NSP4 cytotoxic domain of lamb strain demonstrated an overall amino acid conservation similar to that of other strains, whose NSP4 alone causes diarrhea in animal models. These results taken together with our previous observations clearly reaffirm the idea that the attenuation phenotype of rotaviruses does not involve NSP4 cytotoxic domain, perhaps due to the suppression of NSP4 cytotoxic activity by other rotaviral proteins.