OBJECTIVETo compare the difference of VP7 fragment at the nucleotide level between rotavirus Guangzhou field strain R97-196 and rotavirus Beijing field strain or prototype strains.

METHODSThe VP7 fragment amplified from Guangzhou field strain R97-196 by RT-PCR was cloned into the T-A cloning vector pUCm-T and sequenced.

RESULTSThe VP7 fragment from Guangzhou field strain R97-196 was 1,062 bp in length and contained two open reading frames which is consistent with that reported in the literature. The sequence analysis revealed that the cDNA from R97-196 shared higher nucleotide and amino acid identities with Beijing field strain T73 (98% and %, respectively) than with serotype 2-4 (G types) rotavirus (from 74% to 77% and 73% to 81%, respectively). The divergence of amino acid sequences is mainly within the nine divergence regions. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the VP7 fragment from R97-196 was far away from rotavirus serotype G1 strain Wa.

CONCLUSIONSThe VP7 gene fragment from rotavirus Guangzhou field strain R97-196 belongs to rotavirus serotype G1. And variation of rotavirus VP7 gene fragment seems to be a geographic matter.