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Comparative phylogenetic analysis of rotavirus VP4, VP7, and NSP4 genes
Tamás Berke, Nancy McKnight, and David O. Matson
Center for Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters and
Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Human rotavirus is the leading cause of childhood gastroenteritis worldwide. Rotaviruses contain a double-stranded RNA genome divided into 11 segments, each encoding one protein. The segmented genome readily permits gene reassortment during laboratory co-infection with different strains of rotavirus. Genes 4 and 9 encode VP4 and VP7 proteins that form the outer capsid of the virion and are neutralization proteins. Gene 10 encodes NSP4, a putative viral enterotoxin. The objectives of this study were to assess the phylogenetic relationships of human and animal rotaviruses using the VP4, VP7, and NSP4 genes and to determine whether the phylogenetic analyses supported the possibility of reassortment of genes among different strains of rotaviruses in nature. A total of 393 rotavirus sequences (101 VP4, 247 VP7, and 46 NSP4) was collected from the GenBank. Corresponding gene sequences of the same strain were identified to analyze gene reassortment patterns. Multiple alignments of the protein sequences were performed using CLUSTAL W. The nucleic acid sequences were aligned by hand using the amino acid sequences as template. Phylogenetic relationships were assessed from the nucleic acid alignments using the maximum likelihood algorithm in the PHYLIP 3.5 package. The rotavirus gene sequences analyzed represent a wide range of hosts, genogroups, serotypes, and strains. Maximum likelihood phylograms for the VP4, VP7, and NSP4 genes are presented. Eight strains for which all three genes have been sequenced were analyzed. The VP4, VP7, and NSP4 phylograms reveal that inter-species transmission of rotaviruses has been common and that different phylogenetic patterns exist for the same genes of different strains. Rotavirus gene reassortment in nature is evident from the phylogenetic analyses of the VP4, VP7, and NSP4 genes.

Abstract - Presented at the Virus Evolution Workshop
Ardmore, OK
October 21 - 24th, 1999

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e-mail: mroossinck@noble.org

Dr. Marilyn Roossinck
Plant Biology Division
The Noble Foundation
P.O. Box 2180
Ardmore, OK 73402

phone: 580 224-6630