SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY OF HUMAN GROUP-C ROTAVIRUS IN THE UK

The gene coding for the major inner capsid protein VP6 of human group C rotavirus was cloned into baculovirus using the pBlueBac2(TM) vector and expressed in insect cells. When cultured in High Five(TM) cells, VP6 was expressed at a high level and exported to the cell culture med ium. Purified VP6 was used to immunise rabbits. Hyperimmune rabbit ser um, which reacted with native human group C rotavirus in infected cell s, was used to develop and optimise an EIA for the detection of antibo dies to group C rotavirus using the recombinant VP6 as a source of ant igen. In a local epidemiological survey of 1000 sera grouped by age, a n average of 43% of samples were found to have antibodies to human gro up C rotavirus with the highest proportion (66%) in the 71-75 year age group. In comparison, 97% of adults and 85% of children had antibodie s to recombinant VP6 from the bovine RF strain of group A rotavirus. T hese results suggest that infection with human group C rotavirus is a common occurrence despite the apparent rarity of reports of human grou p C rotavirus in clinical samples from patients with gastroenteritis. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.