AUTHOR=Mokoena Fortunate , Esona Mathew Dioh , Seheri Luyanda Mapaseka , Nyaga Martin Munene , Magagula Nonkululelo Bonakele , Mukaratirwa Arnold , Mulindwa Augustine , Abebe Almaz , Boula Angeline , Tsolenyanu Enyonam , Simwaka Julia , Rakau Kebareng Giliking , Peenze Ina , Mwenda Jason Mathiu , Mphahlele Maphahlaganye Jeffrey , Steele Andrew Duncan ,  African Rotavirus Surveillance Network 

TITLE=Whole Genome Analysis of African G12P[6] and G12P[8] Rotaviruses Provides Evidence of Porcine-Human Reassortment at NSP2, NSP3, and NSP4

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.604444

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2020.604444

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=Group A rotaviruses (RVA) represent the most common cause of pediatric gastroenteritis in children <5 years, worldwide. There has been an increase in global detection and reported cases of acute gastroenteritis caused by RVA genotype G12 strains, particularly in Africa. This study sought to characterize the genomic relationship between African G12 strains and determine the possible origin of these strains. Whole genome sequencing of 34 RVA G12P[6] and G12P[8] strains detected from the continent including southern (South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe), eastern (Ethiopia, Uganda), central (Cameroon) and western (Togo) African regions, were sequenced using the  Ion Torrent PGM method. The majority of the strains possessed a Wa-like backbone with consensus genotype constellation of G12-P[6]/P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1, while a single strain from Ethiopia displayed a DS-1-like genetic constellation of G12-P6-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2. In addition, three Ethiopian strains showed DS-1-like inter-genogroup reassortment of the NSP3 gene, with genetic constellation of G12-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T2-E1-H1. Overall, 10 gene segments (VP1-VP4, VP6 and NSP1-NSP5) of African G12 strains were determined to be genetically related to cognate gene sequences from globally circulating human Wa-like strains whether G12, G9 and G1 genotypes with nucleotide identities of 94.1%-99.9%, 88.5%-98.5% and 89.8%-99.0%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Ethiopian G12P[6] possessing a DS-1 like backbone consistently clustered with G2P[4] strains from Senegal and G3P[6] from Ethiopia. Notably, the NSP2, NSP3 and NSP4 genes of the strains examined of the study strains exhibited the closest relationship with porcine strains suggesting the occurrence of reassortment between human and porcine strains. Our results underpin the potential role interspecies transmission plays in generating human rotavirus diversity through reassortment events and provide insights into the evolutionary dynamics of G12 strains spreading across the African continent