Isolation and molecular characterization of a serotype 9 human rotavirus strain.

A human rotavirus strain, designated AU32, that belongs to serotype 9 was isolated and was compared by RNA-RNA hybridization with recently established two serotype 9 strains (WI61 and F45) as well as other prototype human strains. These three strains exhibited a very high degree of homology with one another and shared a high degree of homology with strains belonging to the Wa genogroup but not with strains belonging to either the DS-1 or AU-1 genogroup. These results suggest that genetic constellation of the serotype 9 strains is similar to that of the commonest human rotavirus despite the recent recognition of this serotype.