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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Mwangi PN, Potgieter RL, Uwimana J, Mutesa L, Muganga N, Murenzi D, Tusiyenge L, Mwenda JM, Mogotsi MT, Rakau K, Esona MD, Steele AD, Seheri ML, Nyaga MM. The Evolution of Post-Vaccine G8P[4] Group a Rotavirus Strains in Rwanda; Notable Variance at the Neutralization Epitope Sites. Pathogens 2023; 12:658. [PMID: 37242329 PMCID: PMC10223037 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Africa has a high level of genetic diversity of rotavirus strains, which is suggested to be a possible reason contributing to the suboptimal effectiveness of rotavirus vaccines in this region. One strain that contributes to this rotavirus diversity in Africa is the G8P[4]. This study aimed to elucidate the entire genome and evolution of Rwandan G8P[4] strains. Illumina sequencing was performed for twenty-one Rwandan G8P[4] rotavirus strains. Twenty of the Rwandan G8P[4] strains had a pure DS-1-like genotype constellation, and one strain had a reassortant genotype constellation. Notable radical amino acid differences were observed at the neutralization sites when compared with cognate regions in vaccine strains potentially playing a role in neutralization escape. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the closest relationship was with East African human group A rotavirus (RVA) strains for five of the genome segments. Two genome sequences of the NSP4 genome segment were closely related to bovine members of the DS-1-like family. Fourteen VP1 and eleven VP3 sequences had the closest relationships with the RotaTeq™ vaccine WC3 bovine genes. These findings suggest that the evolution of VP1 and VP3 might have resulted from reassortment events with RotaTeq™ vaccine WC3 bovine genes. The close phylogenetic relationship with East African G8P[4] strains from Kenya and Uganda suggests co-circulation in these countries. These findings highlight the need for continued whole-genomic surveillance to elucidate the evolution of G8P[4] strains, especially after the introduction of rotavirus vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter N. Mwangi
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit, Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - Robyn-Lee Potgieter
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit, Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - Jeannine Uwimana
- Kigali University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda
| | - Leon Mutesa
- Kigali University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda
- Centre for Human Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda
| | - Narcisse Muganga
- Kigali University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda
| | - Didier Murenzi
- Kigali University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda
| | - Lisine Tusiyenge
- Kigali University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 4285, Rwanda
| | - Jason M. Mwenda
- World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville P.O. Box 06, Congo
| | - Milton T. Mogotsi
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit, Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - Kebareng Rakau
- Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (MEDUNSA), Pretoria 0204, South Africa
| | - Mathew D. Esona
- Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (MEDUNSA), Pretoria 0204, South Africa
| | - A. Duncan Steele
- Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (MEDUNSA), Pretoria 0204, South Africa
| | - Mapaseka L. Seheri
- Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (MEDUNSA), Pretoria 0204, South Africa
| | - Martin M. Nyaga
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit, Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
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