SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS OF VP7 GENE OF 2 NIGERIAN ROTAVIRUS STRAINS

The complete nucleotide sequences of gene 9 (VP7) of rotavirus strains MGH66 and RHIB55 isolated in northern and southern Nigeria, respectiv ely, were determined. The sequence of either strain was 1062 nucleotid es long with two potential glycosylation sites and two in-phase initia tion codons encoding a protein of 326 amino acids provided the first A TG codon was utilised. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of VP7 of the strains with that of published sequences of serotype G1 strains and a representative strain of each of serotypes 2-6 and 8-14 revealed greater than or equal to 91.41% and greater than or equal to 81.60% homology, respectively. The stool sample obtained from a diarrh oeic child in Maiduguri containing strain MGH66 was classified by poly merase chain reaction (PCR) technique as possessing a dual infection s pecificity of VP7 serotypes G1 and G3. The nucleotide sequencing, howe ver, revealed the dual infection specificity of VP7 serotypes G1 and G 8. The implications of nucleotide sequence analysis for serotyping of rotavirus strains originating from different geographical regions and for vaccine development are discussed.