Abstract
Rotavirus group A (RVA) G1 is one leading genotype circulating in humans worldwide, and related molecular information from a global perspective is still limited. Here, we present a comprehensive description of the genetic characterizations and molecular evolution of the RVA G1 VP7 gene. Our results show that RVA G1 can be divided into two lineages and multiple sub-lineages with a relatively high genetic diversity. Vaccine strains are phylogenetic, closer to lineage I. The evolutionary rate of the RVA G1 VP7 gene is 8.869 × 10−4 substitutions/site/year, and its most recent common ancestor was in 1933. The RVA G1 VP7 gene shows a linear evolution at the nucleotide level and a linear accumulation of difference at the amino acid level. Sub-lineage replacement of G1 VP7 gene is also observed and the effective population size of the G1 VP7 gene has had great change in the past decades and has remained stable in recent years. Altogether, the RVA G1 VP7 gene constantly evolves and there is no clear evidence that the evolution of the RVA G1 VP7 gene was influenced by vaccines. Continuous surveillance is still indispensable to evaluate the molecular epidemiology of RVA, especially in the post-vaccination era.
Highlights
Rotavirus group A (RVA) is a leading viral agent of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in human populations
In order to discuss the evolutionary dynamic of G1 strains, time‐scaled maximum clade credibility (MCC) tree was constructed by a Bayesian MCMC method and the same two lineages were observed when compared lineage II
RVA G1 is a prominent G genotype circulating in human populations
Summary
Rotavirus group A (RVA) is a leading viral agent of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in human populations. G1–G4, G9, G12, P[4], P[6], P[8] are the predominant genotypes worldwide [5]. Two live attenuated rotavirus vaccines (RotaTeq and Rotarix) have been recommended by the WHO since 2009, and have been introduced in 109 countries so far in order to reduce the disease burden of RVA [6]. Rotarix is a monovalent vaccine and contains a single attenuated human G1P[8]. RotaTeq is a pentavalent human-bovine (WC3) reassortant rotavirus vaccine and combines five separate reassortant strains (G1–G4, P[8]) [8]. At present, little is known about the molecular evolution of specific RVA genotypes. We used the complete genome of RVA G1 VP7 strains in the GenBank database and conducted a comprehensive description to expand our understanding of the genetic evolution of the RVA G1 VP7 gene
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