The epidemiology of human group A rotavirus was analyzed by examining genotypic data acquired from 1989 to 2009 in South Korea. This information was derived from all the available published articles on rotavirus studies in South Korea, retrieved from both the PubMed and KoreaMed databases. Four common G types (G1, G2, G3, and G4) and three common P types (P[8], P[4], and P[6]) accounted for approximately 93% and 99% of the rotavirus reports, respectively. The G9 type was frequently detected after 2000, and because of this prevalence, it is considered to be the fifth most important G type rotavirus after the G1.G4 genotypes. Less common G types of the virus such as G12, G11, and G10 were detected in some geographic settings, and it is important to consider the context of these subtypes and their epidemiological significance. The P[9] virus genotype was observed in the study and has been discussed in many other studies; however, the P[3], P[10] and P[25] genotypes were rarely detected in the epidemiological research. In general, the distributions of the G and P genotypes showed temporal and geographical fluctuations, and a nationwide rotavirus vaccine program that targeted these genotypes demonstrated effectiveness in protecting against the circulating rotavirus strains. However, further analysis is needed to determine the true long-term effectiveness of these vaccines; the analysis should also consider the unexpected effects of vaccinations, such as vaccine-induced diseases, herd immunity, and changes in host susceptibilities.
Epidemiology ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Immunity, Herd ; Prevalence* ; Republic of Korea* ; Rotavirus* ; Vaccination ; Vaccines ; Viruses

The rotavirus nonstructural glycoprotein, NSP4, has been identified as the first viral enterotoxin capable of inducing diarrhea. To investigate the biological function of NSP4 in the inflammatory process, a cDNA from human rotavirus (Wa strain) RNA segment 10 was amplified by RT-PCR, cloned into TA vector, and subsequently subcloned into pET23b expression plasmid. The expression of NSP4 protein was determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, then, the protein was purified by affinity chromatography on Ni-NTA-agarose column. The inflammatory effects of NSP4, namely, production of nitric oxide (NO), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂), was evaluated using NSP4-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages and compared with those observed after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly increased, and those of NO and PGE₂ also increased in NSP4-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These findings indicate that NSP4 plays an important role in the inflammatory response observed during rotavirus infection.
Blotting, Western ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Clone Cells ; Cytokines ; Diarrhea ; Dinoprostone ; DNA, Complementary ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enterotoxins* ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages* ; Nitric Oxide ; Plasmids ; RAW 264.7 Cells* ; RNA ; Rotavirus Infections ; Rotavirus*