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. 2025;68(1):43-56.
doi: 10.1159/000546065. Epub 2025 Apr 29.

Genetic and Antigenic Variability in VP4 and VP7 of Group A Human Rotavirus in Yunnan, China, from 2015 to 2020

Haoyu Ma  1 , Meifen Wang  1 , Liufang Chuan  2 , Shuying Long  1 , Lijuan Qiu  1 , Canchun Zhao  3 , Qiangming Sun  4 , Zhen Zhang  2 , Hongchao Jiang  1
Affiliations

Genetic and Antigenic Variability in VP4 and VP7 of Group A Human Rotavirus in Yunnan, China, from 2015 to 2020

Haoyu Ma et al. Intervirology. 2025.

Abstract

Background: Rotavirus (RV) A is one of the major reasons which causes acute dehydration and diarrhea. It is also one of the highest morbid diseases in children. There are only a few reports about the changes in prevalence and VP4/VP7 genotype of RVs in southwest China. Here is the report about the prevalence of RVs from 2015 to 2020 in Yunnan, southwest China.

Methods: The virus genes were extracted from RV positive samples, then VP4/VP7 genes were amplified, followed by sequencing and gene typing, phylogenetic analysis, antigenic epitope variation analysis, and selective pressure analysis were also performed.

Results: A total of 135 VP4 gene sequences and 143 VP7 gene sequences were obtained from stool samples during 2015-2020. Of them, P[8] genotype accounted for 97.0% of the total, while the P[4] genotype accounted for 3.0%. As for the VP7 genotype, G9 genotype accounted for 86.0% of the total, the G3 genotype accounted for 9.1%, and the G2 genotype accounted for 4.9%. G9P[8] was identified as the predominant RV strain during the epidemic season in Yunnan during 2015-2020. Phylogenetic analysis showed that G9 genotype sequences were primarily similar to African strains (KJ753473, KY661937), while P[8] genotype sequences were close to Southeast Asian strains (JQ837878, KX362594). In antigenic epitope variation analysis, among 37 epitopes of P[8] genotype, the RotaTeq™ vaccine strain covers 31 amino acid positions, Rotarix™ covers 28 amino acid positions, while LLR covers only 9. In the representative sequence of the G9 genotype, RotaTeq™ vaccine strains cover 27 out of 29 amino acid positions, Rotarix™ covers 16 positions, and LLR covers 16 positions. The results of the selective pressure analysis indicated potential positive sites for the G9P[8] genotype located at vp7-44, vp7-100, vp7-221, vp7-278, vp4-3, and vp4-4.

Conclusions: Our study shows that G9P[8] is the most dominant RV genotype in Yunnan, China. Consistent with the recent epidemic trend of RV strains in China, this study could provide new perspectives on vaccine research.

Keywords: Antigen epitope variation; Phylogenetic analysis; Prevalence; Rotavirus A.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Monthly distribution of RV positive cases during April 2015 to December 2020.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Phylogenetic tree of P[8] genotypes, the length of the nucleotide sequence is 2,328 bp, and the red triangle is the sequence of this report. The best nucleotide substitution model was HKY + G + I. Bootstrap values below 50% are not shown.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Phylogenetic tree of G9 genotypes, the length of the nucleotide sequence is 981 bp, and the red triangle is the sequence of this report. The best nucleotide substitution model was T92 + I. Bootstrap values below 50% are not shown.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Positive rates of RV of different genotypes in different countries in Southeast Asia (2008–2018) and Wuhan, China (2019–2022). a Changes in RV genotype in Cambodia from 2011 to 2016. b Changes in RV genotype in Indonesia from 2010 to 2018. c Changes in RV genotype in Thailand from 2008 to 2016. d Changes in RV genotype in Myanmar from 2010 to 2015. e Changes in RV genotype in LaoPDR from 2009 to 2015. f Changes in RV genotype in the Philippines from 2014 to 2016. g Changes in RV genotype in Vietnam from 2013 to 2015. h Changes in RV genotype in Wuhan from June 2019 to May 2022.
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