Molecular epidemiology of human rotaviruses: genogrouping by RNA-RNA hybridization.

RNA-RNA hybridization performed under high stringency conditions allows rotavirus isolates to be grouped together based on the overall similarity of their genomic RNA constellation. Classification by this scheme has been termed "genogrouping". Genogrouping has advanced molecular epidemiology of human rotaviruses. Major observations include (i) Interspecies transmission occurs in nature and (ii) Intergenogroup reassortment occurs in nature with or without exchange of serotype-determining genes. Genogrouping is a particularly valuable asset for determining the gene constellation of unusual rotavirus isolates.