ISOLATION AND SEROTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL ROTAVIRUSES

A组轮状病毒的外衣壳由两种蛋白质组成： VP 4（由基因组区段4编码）和VP 7（由基因组区段7、8编码 或9，取决于菌株），两者都是不同的中和 抗原 因为中和抗体似乎在 在许多病毒性疾病的保护作用，两个外部衣壳 诱导中和抗体的轮状病毒抗原（VP 4和VP 7） 在研究和开发一种 轮状病毒疫苗 轮状病毒血清型分类 根据中和的VP 7特异性， 通过采用以前适用于其他病毒的原理。 的 这个系统的基石是应变被认为是一个 不同血清型，当中和性差异倒数>20倍时 在该菌株之间观察到抗体滴度， 血清型 根据这一标准，14个VP 7血清型（G血清型） 已被定义。 然而，在以下方面存在相当大的混乱： 根据VP 4特异性对菌株进行分类，因为 缺乏识别VP 4中和特异性抗血清 的特异性 因此，一些菌株已被分类为 但大多数已根据VP 4分配编号 基于核酸杂交的遗传关系， VP 4基因的序列分析。 然而，一个基因型建立由 非血清学方法并不总是与 血清学方法。 中和特异性分析 为了更好地了解轮状病毒，需要VP 7和VP 4 流行病学和制定有效的控制战略 轮状病毒病的免疫接种。 本项目的目标是 三重：（i）直接在细胞培养物中培养各种 人和动物轮状病毒株来源于不同的地理 （二）确定血清型多样性和相似性 基于它们的VP 4和VP 7特异性在这些病毒中进行区分;以及（iii） 选择和开发潜在的轮状病毒候选疫苗（如 在项目“轮状病毒发病机理的遗传学研究”中描述）。的 轮状病毒中和特异性的教育是 重要的是，为了更全面地了解 轮状病毒流行病学和制定有效的战略， 预防针

The outer capsid of group A rotaviruses is comprised of two proteins: VP4 (encoded by genome segment 4) and VP7 (encoded by genome segment 7,8 or 9 depending on the strain), both of which are distinct neutralization antigens. Because neutralizing antibodies appear to play an important role in protection against many viral diseases, the two outer capsid rotavirus antigens (VP4 and VP7) that induce neutralizing antibodies have played a central role in the research and development of a rotavirus vaccine. Classification of rotaviruses into serotypes according to VP7 specificity by neutralization has progressed smoothly by adopting principles previously applied to other viruses. The cornerstone of this system is that a strain is considered to be a distinct serotype when a reciprocal >20-fold difference in neutralizing antibody titer is observed between that strain and established serotypes. Based on this criterion, fourteen VP7 serotypes (G serotype) have been defined. However, there is considerable confusion regarding the classification of strains according to VP4 specificity because of the lack of specific antisera that recognize VP4 neutralization specificity. As a result, a few strains have been classified by neutralization but most have been assigned numbers according to VP4 genetic relationships on the basis of nucleic acid hybridization and sequence analysis of the VP4 gene. However, a genotype established by nonserological methods is not always identical to a serotype defined by serological methods. An analysis of the neutralization specificity on both VP7 and VP4 is needed for a better understanding of rotavirus epidemiology and for formulation of an effective strategy for control of rotavirus disease by immunization. Objectives in this project are three-fold: (i) to cultivate directly in cell cultures a variety of human and animal rotavirus strains derived from diverse geographical areas and populations; (ii) to define serotypic diversity and similarity among these viruses based on their VP4 and VP7 specificities; and (iii) to select and develop potential rotavirus vaccine candidates (as described in project "Genetic studies of Rotavirus Pathogenesis"). The educidation of the neutralization specificities of rotavirus is important in order to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of rotavirus epidemiology and for formulation of an effective strategy for vaccination.