Emergence of non-classical genotype constellations of G9P[8] rotavirus strains in diarrheic children in Sabah, Malaysia

Siat Yee Fong; Yuki Akari; Lia Natasha Amit; Jecelyn Leaslie John; Abraham Zefong Chin; Satoshi Komoto; Kamruddin Ahmed

doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105685

Emergence of non-classical genotype constellations of G9P[8] rotavirus strains in diarrheic children in Sabah, Malaysia

Infect Genet Evol. 2024 Nov:125:105685. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105685. Epub 2024 Oct 24.

Authors

Siat Yee Fong¹, Yuki Akari², Lia Natasha Amit³, Jecelyn Leaslie John⁴, Abraham Zefong Chin⁵, Satoshi Komoto⁶, Kamruddin Ahmed⁷

Affiliations

¹ Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Division of One Health, Research Center for GLOBAL and LOCAL Infectious Diseases (RCGLID), Oita University, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Surveillance Sector, Public Health Division, Sabah State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Division of One Health, Research Center for GLOBAL and LOCAL Infectious Diseases (RCGLID), Oita University, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan; Department of Virology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan; Center for Infectious Disease Research, Research Promotion Headquarters, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia; Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39461399
DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105685

Abstract

G9P[8] has been the predominant rotavirus A (RVA) genotype in Malaysia since the 2000s. However, the overall genetic makeup and evolution of Malaysian G9P[8] strains are still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and characterize the complete genomes of three G9P[8] RVA strains isolated from diarrheic children under five years old in Sabah. Contrary to the classical Wa-like constellation, these strains contained a DS-1-like genotype. Two strains, namely L202 and L234, were genotype G9-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E2-H1, while one (KN102) was genotype G9-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A2-N1-T1-E1-H1. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the NSP4 genes of L202 and L234 strains were closer to that of G9P[8]-E2 strains from Japan, suggesting they might share a common ancestor. The findings from this study provide new insights into the genetic characteristics of circulating G9P[8] strains in Sabah, which are important for rotavirus surveillance and potential vaccine development in the region.

Keywords: G9P[8]-A2; G9P[8]-E2; Malaysia; Reassortment; Rotavirus; Whole-genome.

MeSH terms

Child, Preschool
Diarrhea* / virology
Female
Genome, Viral
Genotype*
Humans
Infant
Malaysia / epidemiology
Phylogeny*
Rotavirus Infections* / epidemiology
Rotavirus Infections* / virology
Rotavirus* / classification
Rotavirus* / genetics