Genetic relatedness among human rotaviruses

The genetic relatedness of 81 clinical rotavirus isolates to the human rotavirus prototype strains Wa (subgroup 2, serotype 1) and DS‐1 (subgroup 1, serotype 2) was examined by RNA hybridization techniques. Labeled single‐stranded ( + ) transcripts of Wa or DS‐1 virus were incubated with denatured genomic rotaviral RNAs, and the resulting hybrids were subjected to gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Nineteen of the specimens contained subgroup 1 rotavirus with a “short” RNA migration pattern. These viruses were found to be closely related to the DS‐1 strain and were associated with illness of short duration. The remaining 62 isolates belonged to subgroup 2 and exhibited a “long” RNA migration pattern. Fifty‐four of these isolates exhibited significant hybridization with the Wa strain probe. Four isolates yielded multiple hybrid bands with the Wa probe but also possessed at least one gene segment homologous to the DS‐1 strain. The remaining four subgroup 2 rotaviruses did not exhibit significant homology in the form of labeled hybrid bands when tested with either the Wa or DS‐1 probe. These findings suggest that most clinical rotavirus isolates belong to one of two human rotavirus “families” defined as Wa‐like or DS‐1‐like. Our observations also suggest that reassortment occurs in vivo between rotaviruses belonging to the two human rotavirus “families” and that there are one or more additional families of human rotavirus.