Genetic variation in the VP4 and NSP4 genes of human rotavirus serotype 3 (G3 type) isolated in China and Japan

Sequence analyses of the VP4 and NSP4 genes were performed on twenty human isolates of serotype G3 rotavirus obtained from China and Japan. One isolat e from China, CHW17, possessed P[4] genotype VP4 and KUN group NSP4 genes w hich are associated with G2. One isolate (02/92) from Japan, which was show n to have a wider spacing between RNA segments 10 and 11 by RNA polyacrylam ide gel electrophoretic analysis like AU-1, possessed P[9] genotype VP4 and AU-1 group NSP4 genes. The other isolates had P[8] genotype VP4 and Wa gro up NSP4 genes. While the nucleotide sequence conservation among the G3 VP7 genes was more than 79% (Wen et al, Arch. Virol., 1997, 142: 1481-1489), th e conservation of VP4 and NSP4 genes in the same genotypes or groups was mo re than 85%.