Nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the serotype-specific antigen of human (Wa) rotavirus: comparison with the homologous genes from simian SA11 and UK bovine rotaviruses.

The nucleotide sequence of human (Wa) rotavirus genome segment 9, which encodes the serotype-specific antigen VP7, has been determined. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of Wa VP7 protein to the sequences of simian SA11 and UK bovine VP7 proteins shows that the majority of the amino acid differences are clustered between amino acid residues 37 through 49, 65 through 75, 87 through 105, 122 through 126, 146 through 149, 178 through 181, and 208 through 242. A hydrophilicity profile of the three proteins reveals correlations between hydrophilic peaks, potentially antigenic determinants, and certain clusters of amino acid changes.