Article
Virology
Sebotsana Rasebotsa, Jeannine Uwimana, Milton T. Mogotsi, Kebareng Rakau, Nonkululeko B. Magagula, Mapaseka L. Seheri, Jason M. Mwenda, M. Jeffrey Mphahlele, Saheed Sabiu, Richard Mihigo, Leon Mutesa, Martin M. Nyaga
Summary: Children in low- and middle-income countries, such as Rwanda, are more susceptible to rotavirus compared to developed countries. The evolutionary mechanisms of multiple reassortant rotavirus strains have been documented, influencing the diversity and dynamics of novel rotaviruses. Whole-genome analysis of rotavirus strains in Rwanda identified genetic reassortment and highlighted similarities and differences with vaccine strains, emphasizing the importance of ongoing genomic analysis in understanding rotavirus evolution and vaccination effectiveness.
Article
Microbiology
Ran Zhuo, Gillian A. M. Tarr, Jianling Xie, Stephen B. Freedman, Daniel C. Payne, Bonita E. Lee, Charlotte McWilliams, Linda Chui, Samina Ali, Xiaoli Pang
Summary: A new assay was developed to detect the presence of RV1-derived rotavirus strains, with results showing that these strains are not significantly associated with the development of gastroenteritis symptoms.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Munazza Fatima, Dilshad A. Khan, Deeba Amraiz, Munir A. Lodhi, Eijaz Ghani, Saifullah K. Niazi, Sakhawat Ali
Summary: This study aimed to detect the genotypic distribution of predominant rotavirus strains in children suffering from acute gastroenteritis in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The results showed that rotavirus infection was mainly found in children aged 2 and below, with the peak incidence at 6-12 months. Subtype G1P[8] was the most prevalent. These findings provide useful information for developing strategies to control and prevent diarrheal infections in children.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Wisoot Chan-It, Chulapong Chanta, Hiroshi Ushijima
Summary: This study investigated the molecular epidemiology of Rotavirus A (RVA) in children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in Chiang Rai, Thailand from 2018 to 2020. RVA was detected in 11.6% of the samples, with G8P[8] being the predominant genotype. The G8P[8] strains were found to be a novel reassortant strain with genetic evolution through reassortment events. The VP7 genes of G8P[8] were closely related to previously published DS-1-like G8P[8] strains, with unique amino acid substitutions in the antigenic epitopes.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Hye Sun Yoon, Yong-Hak Sohn, Jeong Don Chae, Jiseun Lim, Seung Yeon Kim
Summary: This study characterized rotavirus infection in hospitalized children under 5 years of age with gastroenteritis in South Korea after introducing rotavirus vaccines. The prevalence of rotavirus followed a decreasing trend and the vaccine showed an effectiveness of 84.9% against hospitalization.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Erika Ito, Jian Pu, Takayuki Miura, Shinobu Kazama, Masateru Nishiyama, Hiroaki Ito, Yoshimitsu Konta, Tatsuo Omura, Toru Watanabe
Summary: The accumulation of rotavirus vaccine strains in oysters was found to be more efficient than that of wild-type rotavirus, while a significant correlation was observed between the concentrations of wild-type rotavirus in oysters and sewage. However, no significant correlation was found between the concentration of wild-type rotavirus in sewage and the number of rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis cases, indicating the presence of asymptomatic carriers.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jason M. Mwenda, Benjamin D. Hallowell, Umesh Parashar, Keith Shaba, Joseph Nsiari-Muzeyi Biey, Goitom Gebremedhin Weldegebriel, Gilson Kipese Paluku, Bernard Ntsama, Aboubacar N'diaye, Isah Mohammed Bello, Ado Mpia Bwaka, Felicitas R. Zawaira, Richard Mihigo, Jacqueline E. Tate
Summary: Rotavirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis among children globally. The introduction of rotavirus vaccines has led to a significant reduction in the proportion of hospitalized AGE cases that are positive for rotavirus, showing a consistent decline. The impact of rotavirus vaccines has been well-demonstrated in countries where the vaccine has been introduced.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Floriana Bonura, Kristian Banyai, Leonardo Mangiaracina, Celestino Bonura, Vito Martella, Giovanni M. Giammanco, Simona De Grazia
Summary: Hospital-based surveillance in Palermo, Italy, identified a sharp increase in G3P[8] RVAs in 2017, which gradually replaced former strains. Genetic analysis revealed the emergence of a reassortant equine-like G3P[8], with amino acid variations in neutralizing regions compared to vaccine strains, highlighting the zoonotic impact of animal viruses on human health.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Wairimu M. Maringa, Julia Simwaka, Peter N. Mwangi, Evans M. Mpabalwani, Jason M. Mwenda, M. Jeffrey Mphahlele, Mapaseka L. Seheri, Martin M. Nyaga
Summary: The Rotarix(R) vaccine was implemented in Zambia in 2013, and a study identified four unusual strains with atypical genotype constellations circulating post-vaccination. One of the strains showed significant genetic and phylogenetic differences in the VP4 and VP1 gene segments and had amino acid disparities in the VP4 antigenic sites compared to Rotarix(R). These findings contribute to understanding the whole genomes of reassortant strains in Zambia after Rotarix(R) vaccine introduction.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sheikh Ariful Hoque, Azumi Wakana, Hideaki Shimizu, Sayaka Takanashi, Shoko Okitsu, Kazi Selim Anwar, Satoshi Hayakawa, Niwat Maneekarn, Nobuhiko Okabe, Hiroshi Ushijima
Summary: This study detected wild-type rotaviruses and vaccine strains in freshwater clams, indicating a potential threat to food safety and vaccine efficacy. The wild-type RVs were found to accumulate in clams for a long time, and their genotypic distribution was comparable to that in clinical samples. The presence of vaccine strains in clams suggests the possibility of infection or long-distance transmission. Monitoring the transmission of wild-type and vaccine RV strains in the environment is crucial to prevent the emergence of new variants.
FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Rachel M. Burke, Shuman Shih, Chao Agnes Hsiung, Catherine Yen, Baoming Jiang, Umesh D. Parashar, Jacqueline E. Tate, Fang-Tzy Wu, Yhu-Chering Huang
Summary: Although Taiwan did not include rotavirus vaccines in the national immunization schedule, the study found that the vaccines still significantly reduced pediatric hospitalization rates associated with rotavirus.
Article
Virology
Olga V. Morozova, Tatiana A. Sashina, Natalia V. Epifanova, Alexander Yu Kashnikov, Nadezhda A. Novikova
Summary: The study in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, revealed a diversity in the genotypic strains of rotavirus A (RVA), with an increasing trend in G2P[4] strains and a decreasing trend in G9P[8] strains. The lack of rotavirus vaccination in the region may have contributed to the increase in G2P[4] strains.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Filomena Manjate, Eva D. Joao, Percina Chirinda, Marcelino Garrine, Delfino Vubil, Nelio Nobela, Karen Kotloff, James P. Nataro, Tacilta Nhampossa, Sozinho Acacio, Jacqueline E. Tate, Umesh Parashar, Jason M. Mwenda, Pedro L. Alonso, Martin Nyaga, Celso Cunha, Inacio Mandomando
Summary: Rotavirus remains the main cause of diarrhea in children under the age of 5. A study in Mozambique found that the introduction of rotavirus vaccine led to changes in the prevalence of different rotavirus genotypes.
Article
Immunology
Jacqueline E. Tate, Jason M. Mwenda, Adama Mamby Keita, Toussaint Wendlamita Tapsoba, Edouard Ngendahayo, Bertin Dibi Kouame, Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Negar Aliabadi, Seydou Sissoko, Yacouba Traore, Justin Bayisenga, Moufidath Sounkere-Soro, Sheriffo Jagne, Rachel M. Burke, Uma Onwuchekwa, Ma Ouattara, Joel B. Bikoroti, Kofi N'Zue, Eyal Leshem, Oumar Coulibaly, Issa Ouedraogo, Jeannine Uwimana, Samba Sow, Umesh D. Parashar
Summary: In a pooled analysis from 5 African countries, RotaTeq vaccination was not associated with an increased risk of intussusception, highlighting the importance of vaccine-specific and setting-specific risk monitoring.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Shipra Gupta, Vasundhara Razdan Tiku, Mariyam Gauhar, Kahkashan Khatoon, Pratima Ray
Summary: This study assessed the VP7 gene sequence diversity of G9 strains retrieved from GenBank from different geographical regions (1987-2016), and included 22 recently collected G9 strains in the phylogenetic analysis. It was found that unlike 116E, all other G9 rotavirus strains clustered together in a separate lineage (III).
