Identical rearrangement of NSP3 genes found in three independently isolated virus clones derived from mixed infection and multiple passages of Rotaviruses

Three rotavirus variants with a rearranged RNA segment derived from the NSP3 gene were isolated in three independent experiments of coinfection and multiple passages of simian rotavirus strain SA11 and single-VP7-gene- or NSP1-gene-substitution reassortants having genetic background of SA11. Sequence analysis indicated that the three rearranged NSP3 genes had almost identical sequences and genomic structures organized by partial duplication of the open reading frame in a head-to-tail orientation following the termination codon. The junction site of the original NSP3 gene (first copy) and the duplicated portion (second copy) was identical among the three rearranged genes, while a direct repeat, i.e., a homologous sequence between the first copy and second template for duplication, typically located at the junction site, was not detected. However, short similar sequences were present at the end of the first copy and beginning of the second copy. These findings suggest that rearrangement of the NSP3 gene may occur at a certain preferential site which is related to sequence similarity between 3′-untranslated region and a region near the 5′-end of ORF.     

Analysis of genetic factors related to preferential selection of the NSP1 gene segment observed in mixed infection and multiple passage of rotaviruses

Summary. Reassortment is one of the major evolutionary mechanisms of the rotavirus genome. Preferential selection (assortment) of the NSP1 gene segment from either of the parental viruses after coinfection of these viruses has been reported as a notable finding in reassortment. To analyze genetic factors which are associated with preferential selection of the rotavirus NSP1 gene segment into progeny viruses, mixed infection and multiple passages were performed using two panels of rotaviruses, i.e., bovine rotavirus A5 clones, and simian rotavirus SA11 and five strains of SA11-based single NSP1 gene-substitution reassortants. In the first experiment, three A5 clones (A5-10, A5-13, and A5-16) that had genetically distinct NSP1 genes in the same genetic background were used. In coinfection of these A5 clones, it was noted that the A5-10 NSP1 gene, which encodes an incomplete protein product due to presence of a nonsense codon at an unusual position, was selected more preferentially than the A5-13 NSP1 gene with intact length and structure. The A5-16 NSP1 gene, with a deletion of 500 bp, was least efficiently selected. In the second experiment, we prepared two reassortants, SOF and SRF, which have NSP1 genes from rotavirus strains OSU and RRV, respectively, in the genetic background of SA11, which were used together with previously prepared reassortants SKF, SDF, and SNF, which had NSP1 genes from strains KU, DS1, and K9, respectively. Among the 6 NSP1 genes analyzed, the NSP1 gene from SKF was most preferentially selected, followed by SNF, SOF, SDF, SA11, and SRF, in that order. Although SOF exhibited less growth efficacy than SA11, the growth rates of other reassortants were similar to that of SA11. These findings suggest that for the occurrence of preferential selection of the NSP1 gene, production of the intact NSP1 protein may not be involved, but the presence of intact length of the NSP1 gene may be required. Furthermore, it was also found that genetic similarity based on primary structure of this gene is not related to the selectivity of the NSP1 gene.     

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。     

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.     

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.     

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     

Analysis on reassortment of rotavirus NSP1 genes lacking coding region for cysteine-rich zinc finger motif

Summary.  Rotavirus clones A5–10 and A5–16 isolated from a bovine rotavirus strain A5 possess NSP1 gene which has a point mutation generating a nonsense codon and a 500 base-deletion, respectively. As a result, the two A5 clones encode truncated NSP1 product which lacks cysteine-rich region forming zinc finger motif. In order to analyze reassortment of these mutated NSP1 gene with RNA segments from heterologous strains, we investigated a number of reassortant clones derived from coinfection with either A5–10, A5–16 or a reference strain A5–13 (possessing intact NSP1 gene) and either simian rotavirus SA11 or human rotavirus KU. In coinfection with SA11 and A5–13, selection rates of A5–13 segments in reassortants ranged approximately from 20 to 70% (46% for NSP1 gene). In contrast, in the reassortment between SA11 and A5–10 or between SA11 and A5–16, selection rates of NSP1 gene from A5–10 and A5–16 were only 1% (one clone) and 0%, respectively. In reassortants from crosses KU × A5-clones, selection rate of A5–13 NSP1 gene decreased to 15%, while 11 reassortants with A5–10 NSP1 gene (31%) and one reassortant with A5–16 NSP1 gene (2%) were isolated. Reassortants with A5–10 NSP1 possessed a single gene (segment 9 or 11) from KU in the genetic background of A5–10. One reassortant clone (cl-55) with A5–16 NSP1 gene possessed KU gene segments 3, 4, and 8–11. When single-step growth curves were compared, the reassortant cl-55 showed almost identical growth curve to that of KU, while KU showed a better replication than A5–16. These results indicated that although A5–10 or A5–16 NSP1 gene encoding the truncated NSP1 is selected into reassortants much less efficiently than normal NSP1 gene, the reassortants with the mutated NSP1 gene and RNA segments from heterologous strains normally replicated in cultured cells. Thus, cysteine-rich region of NSP1 was not considered essential for genome segment reassortment with heterologous virus. Accepted August 29, 1998 Received July 6, 1998     

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.     

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.     

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.     

中国轮状病毒非结构蛋白NSP4基因变异特征的分析

目的　研究我国轮状病毒流行株NSP4基因的变异特点。方法　对近年来从我国不同地区获得的 2 7份人轮状病毒流行株的NSP4基因用RT PCR进行扩增 ,克隆后进行全长cDNA序列分析 ,并利用Clustal× 1.8,TreeView3 2及DNAStar软件与参比株Wa、KUN、AU 1、EW及来自GenBank的OSU、SA11、Hochi、US2 44、Bristol株的NSP4序列进行分析比较。采用PCR分型方法对VP7血清型进行鉴定 ,确定轮状病毒G型与NSP4基因型的关系。结果　氨基酸同源性比较表明 ,我国轮状病毒不同流行株NSP4之间同源性为 81.7%～ 99.4% ,据此可将 2 7株RVNSP4分为 2组 ,分别以Wa株和KUN株为代表 ,其中以Wa组为主。组内同源性分别为 92 .0 %～ 99.4%和 92 .0 %～ 98.9% ,组内变异率分别为 0～ 8 5 %及 1 2 %～ 8 5 %。两组间变异率达 16 6%～ 2 1 0 %。氨基酸进化树提示在Wa组内包括 3个亚组。轮状病毒G血清型与NSP4基因型之间的联系不确定。结论　我国流行株NSP4基因主要可分为Wa组和KUN组 ,在Wa组内可形成三个亚组 ,并且在高变区有特征性的氨基酸位点。NSP4的变异与年份有关而与地域关系不密切     

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.     

Isolation and molecular characterization of a naturally occurring non-structural protein 5 (NSP5) gene reassortant of group A rotavirus of serotype G2P[4] with a long RNA pattern

We report here two unusual strains of group A rotavirus, AU85 and AU102, isolated from children with diarrhea. These strains showed an unusual combination of serotype G2 and a long RNA pattern. RNA-RNA hybridization assays showed that these strains are reassortants in which a single genome segment 11 (the NSP5 gene) was derived from a Wa genogroup strain, while other 10 genome segments from a DS-1 genogroup strain. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the NSP5 gene of strain AU85 did not form cluster with Wa strain, while it belonged to the cluster of YM and other porcine strains. Phylogenetic analysis also showed that NSP5 and VP7 genes of AU85 were derived from the rotavirus circulating in the area. Both co-electrophoresis and RNA-RNA hybridization showed that AU85 and AU102 are identical strains. Moreover, the nucleotide sequence comparison between these two strains revealed that they had 100% identical NSP4, NSP5, and VP7 genes. These results suggest that AU85 was a reassortant formed relatively recently between rotaviruses belonging to the Wa and the DS-1 genogroup.     

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.     

Species specificity and interspecies relatedness of NSP4 genetic groups by comparative NSP4 sequence analyses of animal rotaviruses

Summary.  Previous sequence analyses of the rotavirus nonstructural NSP4 from human and some animal rotavirus strains revealed the presence of three distinct NSP4 alleles or genetic groups. To examine the species of origin relatedness and diversity of NSP4, the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the gene encoding the NSP4 from 15 animal rotavirus strains of porcine, equine, bovine, lapine and canine origin were determined and compared to human and other animal strains sequenced previously. Lapine and equine strains were shown to belong to the NSP4 genotype A. Murine NSP4 sequences formed a previously unrecognized fourth distinct NSP4 genotype (genotype D) that was more divergent compared to NSP4 genotype A, B, and C than the latter three are among each other. Within NSP4 genotypes, strains isolated from rabbits, horses, cows (genotype A) and pigs (genotype B) clustered according to species of origin, suggesting a conserved pattern of evolution within species. NSP4 sequence comparison among one wildtype and two tissue culture-adapted lapine strains, known to cause disease in neonatal rabbits, failed to identify amino acid changes within the variable region spanning amino acids 130 to 141, suggesting that disease in rabbits is the result of the lapine virus infection and replication, including production of the NSP4 enterotoxin. Accepted September 3, 1999/Received July 19, 1999     

Comparison of NSP4 protein between group A and B human rotaviruses: detection of novel diarrhea-causing sequences in group B NSP4

Summary. The human group B rotavirus is a causative agent of severe adult diarrhea. In this study, we analyzed the NSP4 structure of a group B rotavirus strain, CAL-1, and determined whether enterotoxin activity was present in CAL-1 NSP4. CAL-1 NSP4 was comprised of 219 amino acids which was longer than group A and C rotavirus NSP4, and the primary structures of their sequences differed considerably. However, CAL-1 NSP4 had an enterotoxin-like sequence (residues 106–127) that was only 27% identical to the enterotoxin region of NSP4 of KUN (a group A rotavirus strain) at residues 114–135. Interestingly, both of the synthetic peptides, one (residues 99–128) containing the enterotoxin-like sequence and the other (residues 191–219) containing 29 C-terminal amino acids of CAL-1 NSP4, induced diarrhea in 5.5-day-old mice, but not in 17.5-day-old mice, when administered parenterally. Thus, rotavirus “enterotoxin” sequences could be considerably divergent.     

Group C rotavirus NSP4 induces diarrhea in neonatal mice

Summary.  Nonstructural glycoprotein NSP4 of group A rotavirus induces diarrhea in neonatal mice by functioning as an enterotoxin. Previously, our laboratory reported that the structural features of group A and group C rotavirus NSP4 proteins are well conserved despite a lack of sequence homology between group A and group C rotavirus NSP4 proteins [Horie Y, et al., Arch Virol (1997) 142: 1865–1872]. To test whether group C rotavirus NSP4 has an enterotoxigenic activity, we expressed in Escherichia coli the carboxy two-thirds (corresponding to amino acid residues 55–150) of the NSP4 protein derived from group C rotavirus strain Ehime 9301. This truncated NSP4 protein was able to induce diarrhea in 5-day-old CD-1 mice when administered intraperitoneally. Thus, group C rotavirus NSP4 acts as an enterotoxin like group A rotavirus NSP4. Received September 22, 2000 Accepted November 18, 2000     

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）。