Reverse Genetics Approach for Developing Rotavirus Vaccine Candidates Carrying VP4 and VP7 Genes Cloned from Clinical Isolates of Human Rotavirus
Yuta Kanai, Misa Onishi, Takahiro Kawagishi, Pimfhun Pannacha, Jeffery A. Nurdin, Ryotaro Nouda, Moeko Yamasaki, Tina Lusiany, Pattara Khamrin, Shoko Okitsu, Satoshi Hayakawa, Hirotaka Ebina, Hiroshi Ushijima, Takeshi Kobayashi
Abstract
Although vaccines have reduced global RV-associated hospitalization and mortality over the past decade, the multisegmented genome of RVs allows reassortment of VP4 and VP7 genes from different RV species and strains. The evolutionary dynamics of novel RV genotypes and their constellations have led to great genomic and antigenic diversity. The reverse genetics system is a powerful tool for manipulating RV genes, thereby controlling viral antigenicity, growth capacity, and pathogenicity. Here, we generated recombinant simian RVs (strain SA11) carrying heterologous VP4 and VP7 genes cloned from clinical isolates and showed that VP4- or VP7-substituted chimeric viruses can be used for antigenic characterization of RV outer capsid proteins and as improved seed viruses for vaccine production.