Amplification of all 11 RNA segments of group A rotaviruses based on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

Group A rotaviruses (RVA) are a major cause of acute infantile gastroenteritis. The viral genome comprises 11 double-stranded RNA segments and the respective gene segments are classified into more than eight genotypes, according to the nucleotide sequence similarities. So far, it has been difficult to amplify full-length sequences of long RNA segments of rotaviruses by one-time only RT-PCR (especially in the genes for the viral proteins VP1, VP2, VP3 and VP4). In this study, a set of universal primers to amplify all 11 segments of RVA was designed by aligning the nucleotide sequences of the typical rotavirus strains. Using these primers and a high-fidelity and rapid DNA polymerase in a one-step reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, almost the entire length of all 11 segments of the seven rotavirus strains Wa, DS-1, Hochi, 69M, WI61, M37 and SA11-S1 were accurately and rapidly amplified. In addition, all 11 segments of rotavirus obtained from a fecal specimen were successfully amplified. In conclusion, the method described here will be useful as an RVA detection system and protocol for complete analysis of the 11 genome sequences.