1Division of Virology, IVRI, Mukteswar, Nainital 263138, Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India
2Division of Veterinary Public Health, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
Division of Biological Standardization, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Tzatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author: Email: malikyps@ivri.res.in
Online published on 27 February, 2014.
A unique human (group A) rotavirus isolate, bearing bovine-Iike VP7 and VP4 genes, was characterized by sequence analysis of its major outer capsid protein genes (VP4 and VP7) and enterotoxin non-structural protein gene (NSP4). The VP4 gene of this isolate shared the greatest sequence homology (at 99.3% nucleotide and 99.6% amino acid) with those of Indian bovine P[ll] strains. The VP7 gene had highest homology (at 99.8% nucleotide and 100% amino acid) with those of Indian bovine G3 rotavirus strains. However, percent sequence identity of both VP4 and VP7 genes was lower when compared with those of P[ll] and G3 human rotavirus strains, respectively. The NSP4 gene sequence had closer relationship with Indian bovine E2 genotype rotavirus. Phylogenetic analysis of VP4, VP7, and NSP4 genes of H2 isolate revealed its close proximity with rota viruses of bovine origin. The findings are suggestive of interspecies transmission events of rotavirus between human and bovine in nature and also provide convincing evidence that evolution of human rota viruses is tightly intermingled with the evolution of animal rotaviruses.
