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Potgieter RL, Mwangi PN, Mogotsi MT, Uwimana J, Mutesa L, Muganga N, Murenzi D, Tusiyenge L, Seheri ML, Steele AD, Mwenda JM, Nyaga MM. Genomic Analysis of Rwandan G9P[8] Rotavirus Strains Pre- and Post-RotaTeq ® Vaccine Reveals Significant Distinct Sub-Clustering in a Post-Vaccination Cohort. Viruses 2023; 15:2321. [PMID: 38140562 PMCID: PMC10747556 DOI: 10.3390/v15122321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the introduction of rotavirus vaccines has substantially contributed to the reduction in rotavirus morbidity and mortality, concerns persist about the re-emergence of variant strains that might alter vaccine effectiveness in the long term. The G9 strains re-emerged in Africa during the mid-1990s and have more recently become predominant in some countries, such as Ghana and Zambia. In Rwanda, during the 2011 to 2015 routine surveillance period, G9P[8] persisted during both the pre- and post-vaccine periods. The pre-vaccination cohort was based on the surveillance period of 2011 to 2012, and the post-vaccination cohort was based on the period of 2013 to 2015, excluding 2014. The RotaTeq® vaccine that was first introduced in Rwanda in 2012 is genotypically heterologous to Viral Protein 7 (VP7) G9. This study elucidated the whole genome of Rwandan G9P[8] rotavirus strains pre- and post-RotaTeq® vaccine introduction. Fecal samples from Rwandan children under the age of five years (pre-vaccine n = 23; post-vaccine n = 7), conventionally genotyped and identified as G9P[8], were included. Whole-genome sequencing was then performed using the Illumina® MiSeq platform. Phylogenetic analysis and pair-wise sequence analysis were performed using MEGA6 software. Distinct clustering of three post-vaccination study strains was observed in all 11 gene segments, compared to the other Rwandan G9P[8] study strains. Specific amino acid differences were identified across the gene segments of these three 2015 post-vaccine strains. Important amino acid differences were identified at position N242S in the VP7 genome segment of the three post-vaccine G9 strains compared to the other G9 strains. This substitution occurs at a neutralization epitope site and may slightly affect protein interaction at that position. These findings indicate that the Rwandan G9P[8] strains revealed a distinct sub-clustering pattern among post-vaccination study strains circulating in Rwanda, with changes at neutralization epitopes, which may play a role in neutralization escape from vaccine candidates. This emphasizes the need for continuous whole-genome surveillance to better understand the evolution and epidemiology of the G9P[8] strains post-vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn-Lee Potgieter
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit and Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; (R.-L.P.); (P.N.M.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Peter N. Mwangi
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit and Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; (R.-L.P.); (P.N.M.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Milton T. Mogotsi
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit and Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; (R.-L.P.); (P.N.M.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Jeannine Uwimana
- Department of Pediatrics, Kigali University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda; (J.U.); (L.M.); (N.M.); (D.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Leon Mutesa
- Department of Pediatrics, Kigali University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda; (J.U.); (L.M.); (N.M.); (D.M.); (L.T.)
- Centre for Human Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda
| | - Narcisse Muganga
- Department of Pediatrics, Kigali University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda; (J.U.); (L.M.); (N.M.); (D.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Didier Murenzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Kigali University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda; (J.U.); (L.M.); (N.M.); (D.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Lisine Tusiyenge
- Department of Pediatrics, Kigali University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda; (J.U.); (L.M.); (N.M.); (D.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Mapaseka L. Seheri
- Diarrheal Pathogens Research Unit, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Medunsa, Pretoria 0204, South Africa; (M.L.S.); (A.D.S.)
| | - A. Duncan Steele
- Diarrheal Pathogens Research Unit, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Medunsa, Pretoria 0204, South Africa; (M.L.S.); (A.D.S.)
| | - Jason M. Mwenda
- World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville P.O. Box 06, Congo;
| | - Martin M. Nyaga
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit and Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; (R.-L.P.); (P.N.M.); (M.T.M.)
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Amit LN, John JL, Mori D, Chin AZ, Mosiun AK, Ahmed K. Increase in rotavirus prevalence with the emergence of genotype G9P[8] in replacement of genotype G12P[6] in Sabah, Malaysia. Arch Virol 2023; 168:173. [PMID: 37269384 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-023-05803-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Rotaviruses are major causative agents of acute diarrhea in children under 5 years of age in Malaysia. However, a rotavirus vaccine has not been included in the national vaccination program. To date, only two studies have been carried out in the state of Sabah, Malaysia, although children in this state are at risk of diarrheal diseases. Previous studies showed that 16%-17% of cases of diarrhea were caused by rotaviruses and that equine-like G3 rotavirus strains are predominant. Because the prevalence of rotaviruses and their genotype distribution vary over time, this study was conducted at four government healthcare facilities from September 2019 through February 2020. Our study revealed that the proportion of rotavirus diarrhea increased significantly to 37.2% (51/137) after the emergence of the G9P[8] genotype in replacement of the G12P[8] genotype. Although equine-like G3P[8] strains remain the predominant rotaviruses circulating among children, the Sabahan G9P[8] strain belonged to lineage VI and was phylogenetically related to strains from other countries. A comparison of the Sabahan G9 strains with the G9 vaccine strains used in the RotaSiil and Rotavac vaccines revealed several mismatches in neutralizing epitopes, indicating that these vaccines might not be effective in Sabahan children. However, a vaccine trial may be necessary to understand the precise effects of vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Natasha Amit
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Jecelyn Leaslie John
- Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Daisuke Mori
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Abraham Zefong Chin
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Andau Konodan Mosiun
- Kunak District Health Office, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kunak, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Kamruddin Ahmed
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
- Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
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