Molecular characterization of OP354‐like P[8] (P[8]b subtype) human rotaviruses a species isolated in Japan

OP354‐like P[8] (P[8]b subtype) species A rotaviruses (RVAs) were isolated first time in Japan during a RVA survey in Okayama Prefecture between 2006 and 2009. Two of 236 RVA‐positive samples were identified as G1P[8]b by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. P[8]b strains (RVA/human‐wt/JPN/OH1998/2008/G1P[8]b and RVA/human‐wt/JPN/OH2024/2008/G1P[8]b) were isolated only in May, 2008 and both patients infected with P[8]b viruses lived in the same city, suggesting that the prevalence of P[8]b RVAs is limited considerably in Okayama Prefecture. Molecular analysis of four genes (VP4, VP6, VP7, and NSP4 genes) of Japanese P[8]b strains revealed that the VP4 genes of these strains were related closely to those of Southeast Asian and Indian P[8]b strains. In contrast, the VP6, VP7, and NSP4 genes of Japanese P[8]b strains were highly homologous to G1P[8]a strains prevalent in the same area. These results suggest that the Japanese P[8]b strain may be a result of reassortment events between Japanese G1P[8]a viruses and unidentified Asian viruses possessing the P[8]b VP4 gene. J. Med. Virol. 84:697–704, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.