Identification of G and P genotype-specific motifs in the predicted VP7 and VP4 amino acid sequences

Equine rotavirus (ERV) strain L338 (G13P[18]) has a unique G and P genotype. However, the evolutionary relationship of 1338 with other ERVs is still unknown. Here whole genome analysis of the 1338 ERV strain was independently performed. Its genotype constellations were determined as G13-P[18]-16-R9-C9-M6-A6-N9-T12-E14-H11, confirming previous genotype assignments. The 1338 strain only shared the P[18] and 16 genotypes with other ERVs. The nucleotide sequences of the other 9 RNA segments were different from those of cogent genes of all other group A rotavirus (RVA) strains including ERVs and formed unique phylogenetic lineages. The 1338 evolutionary footprints were tentatively identified in both VP7 and VP4 amino acid sequences: two regions were found in VP7 and twelve in VP4. The conserved regions shared between 1338 and other group A rotavirus strains (RVAs) indicated that 1338 was more closely related genomically to animal and human RVAs other than ERVs, suggesting that 1338 may not be an endogenous equine RV but have emerged as an interspecies reassortant with other RVA strains. Furthermore, genotype-specific motifs of all 27 G and 37 P types were identified in regions 7-1a (aa 91-100) of VP7 and regions 8-1 (aa146-151) and 8-3 (aa113-118 and 125-135) of VP4 (VP8*). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.