Molecular and genetic characteristics of group A rotaviruses detected in Moscow in 2015–2020

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze genetic characteristics of strains belonging to group A rotaviruses (RVA) circulating in Moscow in 2015–2020, including rare strains non-typeable by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Materials and methods. A total of 289 stool samples were tested; the samples were collected from children aged 1 month to 17 years, hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis. Immunochromatography and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) assays were used for detection of rotaviruses in the samples. The rotavirus genome sequencing was performed using the Sanger technique and nanopore sequencing.Results and discussion. RVA RNA was detected in 131 clinical samples, and the G/[P] genotype was identified in 125 samples. The general profile showed prevalence of RVA strains with the G9P[8]I1 genotype (37%) followed by G3P[8]I2, G4P[8]I1, G2P[4]I2, G1P[8]I1, and G3P[8]I1 variants (18, 15, 11, 5, and 2%, respectively). Seven (5%) isolates were identified as GxP[8]. In 2015–2020, the region reported a decline in G4P[8]I1 genotype prevalence (from 39% to 9%) and an increase in the proportion of the G9P[8]I1 genotype (from 6% to 37%) as compared to 2009–2014. In 2018–2020, a large number of cases with the previously unknown DS-1-like reassortant strain with the G3P[8]I2 genotype were reported; the above strain has become widely common worldwide in the recent years. Nanopore sequencing was performed to analyze the genome of the G3P[8]I2 strain and the rare G4P[6]I1 strain. It was found that the G4P[6]I1 strain was phylogenetically related to porcine rotaviruses.Conclusion. In the recent years, the genetic diversity of RVA circulating in the Moscow Region has changed significantly. The obtained results prove the importance of continuous monitoring of rotavirus infection and selective sequencing of RVA genes to fine-tune data of the type-specific real-time RT-PCR. The ever-changing genetic composition of the circulating RVA strains calls for regular optimization of RVA genotyping systems based on real-time RT-PCR.

Phylogeographic characteristics of reassortant DS-1-like G3P[8]-strains of rotavirus type A isolated in Nizhny Novgorod (Russia).

“…In addition, the second cluster includes G3P[8] DS-1-like RVA isolated around the world. According to the literature data, double intergroup G3P[8] reassortants, which in a number of articles are also called "equine-like" RVAs, dominated in Thailand (2014-16), Indonesia (2013-16), Malaysia (2018-19), Japan (2017-18), Brazil (2018-19), Russia (2019) [33][34][35][36][37][38]. In addition, G3P[8] reassortants were found in the territories of European countries: Spain (2014-15), Italy (2017-19), Slovakia (2019), Germany (2016), Hungary (2015), Turkey (2016-17), as well as China (2017-18) and Kenya (2018) [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46].…”

Detection and full-genotype determination of rare and reassortant rotavirus A strains in Nizhny Novgorod in the European part of Russia

“…In Nizhny Novgorod, 4 DS-1-like strains with G1-P[8]-I2-E2 genotype were shown by sequencing of four genes (VP7, VP4, VP6 and NSP4) and 2 mono-reassortant strains with G4-P[8]-E2 genotype were found using partial sequencing of all genes [22,23]. Also, G3-P[8]-I2 reassortant strains were detected in Moscow by real-time RT-PCR and Oxford Nanopore sequencing [24].…”