MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HUMAN ROTAVIRUSES - GENOGROUPING BY RNA-RNAHYBRIDIZATION

RNA-RNA hybridization performed under high stringency conditions allow s rotavirus isolates to be grouped together based on the overall simil arity of their genomic RNA constellation. Classification by this schem e has been termed ''genogrouping''. Genogrouping has advanced molecula r epidemiology of human rotaviruses. Major observations include (i) In terspecies transmission occurs in nature and (ii) Intergenogroup reass ortment occurs in nature with or without exchange of serotype-determin ing genes. Genogrouping is a particularly valuable asset for determini ng the gene constellation of unusual rotavirus isolates.