Table_1_Genomic and evolutionary characteristics of G9P[8], the dominant group a rotavirus in China (2016–2018).DOCX

G9P[8] became the predominant rotavirus A (RVA) genotype in China in 2012. To evaluate its genetic composition at the whole-genome level, 115 G9P[8] RVA strains isolated from children under 5 years old were sequenced and characterized. All 13 strains in 2016 and 2017 and an additional 54 strains in 2018 were genotyped as G9-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1. The other 48 strains in 2018 were all genotyped as G9-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E2-H1, with the NSP4 gene characterized as a DS-1-like genotype. The time of the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) and evolution rates of the VP7, VP4, and NSP4 (E1 and E2) genes of these strains were estimated by Bayesian evolutionary dynamics analysis. We estimated the evolution rates (nt substitutions per site per year) as 1.38 × 10–3 [the 95% highest posterior density (HPD) was 1.09–1.72 × 10–3] for VP7, 0.87 × 10–3 (95% HPD: 0.75–1.00 × 10–3) for VP4, 0.56 × 10–3 (95% HPD: 0.41–0.73 × 10–3) for NSP4-E1, and 1.35 × 10–3 (95% HPD: 0.92–1.86 × 10–3) for NSP4-E2. The tMRCA was estimated to be 1935.4 (95% HPD: 1892.4–1961.3) for VP7, 1894.3 (95% HPD: 1850.5–1937.8) for VP4, 1929.4 (95% HPD: 1892.4–1961.3) for NSP4-E1, and 1969.2 (95% HPD: 1942.2–1985.3) for NSP4-E2. The baseline genetic information in this study is expected to improve our understanding of the genomic and evolutionary characteristics of the rotavirus genome. Furthermore, it will provide a basis for the development of next-generation rotavirus vaccines for humans.</p

Transmission of recombinant enterovirus A76 (EV-A76) in Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region of China

Enterovirus 76 (EV-A76) is a serotype of enterovirus A and has been rarely reported. In this paper, we present the genetic characteristics of 15 EV-A76 isolates reported to circulate in the Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region of China in 2011. Sequence analysis revealed that all Chinese EV-A76 isolates had high similarity (> 98.3%) in the VP1 region, and five Chinese EV-A76 isolates were selected for whole genome sequencing based on VP1 nucleotide divergence. Similarity plots and boot-scanning analyses revealed frequent intertypic recombination in the nonstructural region of the EV-A76 isolate, as found with the EV-A89 donor sequence (also isolated in Xinjiang). The breakpoint of recombination is around nucleotide 3960, and the recombinant fragments covered part 2C and all P3 regions. This study increases publicly available EV-A76 nucleotide sequence and further our understanding EV-A76 molecular epidemiology.</p