Genetic reassortment between two human rotaviruses having different serotype and subgroup specificities.

Two reassortant viruses were selected from a mixed infection of MA104 cells with human rotavirus strains Wa (serotype 1-subgroup II) and HN126 (serotype 2-subgroup I). Antigenic characterization and genotype analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that they were reassortants with novel antigenic compositions, i.e. serotype 1-subgroup I (C116) and serotype 2-subgroup II (C15). Furthermore one of them, C15, was considered to have a mosaic antigenicity defined by two serotype-specific antigens, namely the serotype 1-specific VP3 antigen and the serotype 2-specific VP7 antigen. Although this reassortant was shown to be a serotype 2 virus on the basis of its preferential reactivity in neutralization reactions with serotype 2 antiserum, unexpectedly the antiserum prepared against C15 equally neutralized both serotype 1 and serotype 2 strains.