Direct identification of serotypes of natural human rotavirus isolates by hybridization using cDNA probes derived from segment 9 of the rotavirus genome.

Under stringent hybridization conditions, cDNA of segment 9 of the rotavirus genome, which codes for the viral protein VP7, permitted differentiation of serotypes of culture-grown rotaviruses and natural isolates of human rotaviruses directly from clinical specimens. This was evident for the following reasons. (i) The cDNA of one serotype selectively hybridized with the RNA of the same serotype of culture-grown rotaviruses. (ii) Natural isolates of the virus thus identified as serotype 2 were also those which gave the short electrophoretic pattern characteristic of the genome of serotype 2, subgroup 1 viruses. Isolates having the long electrophoretic pattern characteristic of the genome of subgroup 2 viruses were identified as serotype 1, 3, or 4 by this method. (iii) For patients who had previously undergone serological analysis, the serotypes being excreted were the same serotypes against which there was the most marked serum neutralizing antibody response. Although the virus population was genetically diverse, the preponderance of the population prevalent in Guangzhou and Foshan in each of the three successive years between 1982 and 1985 comprised a single serotype. The dominant serotype changed from one year to another, but there was minimal cocirculation of different serotypes in this community. All virus isolates belonged to serotype 1,2,3, or 4, and there was no evidence to suggest that the other human rotavirus serotypes were prevalent in this community.