Evolutionary changes between pre- and post-vaccine South African group A G2P[4] rotavirus strains, 2003–2017
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Date
Authors
Mwangi, Peter N.
Page, Nicola Anne
Seheri, Mapaseka L.
Mphahlele, M.
Nadan, Sandrama
Esona, Mathew D.
Kumwenda, Benjamin
Kamng’ona, Arox W.
Donato, Celeste M.
Steele, Duncan A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Microbiology Society
Abstract
The transient upsurge of G2P[4] group A rotavirus (RVA) after Rotarix vaccine introduction in several countries has been a
matter of concern. To gain insight into the diversity and evolution of G2P[4] strains in South Africa pre- and post-RVA
vaccination
introduction, whole-genome
sequencing was performed for RVA positive faecal specimens collected between 2003
and 2017 and samples previously sequenced were obtained from GenBank (n=103; 56 pre- and 47 post-vaccine).
Pre-vaccine
G2 sequences predominantly clustered within sub-lineage
IVa-1.
In contrast, post-vaccine
G2 sequences clustered mainly
within sub-lineage
IVa-3,
whereby a radical amino acid (AA) substitution, S15F, was observed between the two sub-lineages.
Pre-vaccine
P[4] sequences predominantly segregated within sub-lineage
IVa while post-vaccine
sequences clustered mostly
within sub-lineage
IVb, with a radical AA substitution R162G. Both S15F and R162G occurred outside recognised antigenic sites.
The AA residue at position 15 is found within the signal sequence domain of Viral Protein 7 (VP7) involved in translocation of
VP7 into endoplasmic reticulum during infection process. The 162 AA residue lies within the hemagglutination domain of Viral
Protein 4 (VP4) engaged in interaction with sialic acid-containing
structure during attachment to the target cell. Free energy
change analysis on VP7 indicated accumulation of stable point mutations in both antigenic and non-antigenic
regions. The
segregation of South African G2P[4] strains into pre- and post-vaccination
sub-lineages
is likely due to erstwhile hypothesized
stepwise lineage/sub-lineage
evolution of G2P[4] strains rather than RVA vaccine introduction. Our findings reinforce the need
for continuous whole-genome
RVA surveillance and investigation of contribution of AA substitutions in understanding the
dynamic G2P[4] epidemiology.
Description
DATA STATEMENT : All supporting data, code and protocols have been provided within the article or through supplementary data files.
Keywords
G2P[4] Group A rotavirus strains, Rotavirus, Sub-lineages, Whole-genome analysis
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Mwangi, P.N., Page, N.A., Seheri, M.L. et al. 2022, 'Evolutionary changes between pre- and post-vaccine South African group A G2P[4] rotavirus strains, 2003–2017', Microbial Genomics, vol. 2022, no. 8, pp. 1-14. DOI 10.1099/mgen.0.000809.