Predominance of Recombinant Norovirus Strains in Greece, 2016–2018
GII.4 noroviruses have caused the overwhelming majority of norovirus-related gastroenteritis cases during the past two decades. However, a trend towards the emergence of new genotypes and novel GII.4 variants provided the impetus to explore further the changing patterns in norovirus epidemiology dur...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2885 |
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| author | Nikolaos Siafakas Cleo Anastassopoulou Maria Lafazani Genovefa Chronopoulou Emmanouil Rizos Spyridon Pournaras Athanasios Tsakris |
| author_facet | Nikolaos Siafakas Cleo Anastassopoulou Maria Lafazani Genovefa Chronopoulou Emmanouil Rizos Spyridon Pournaras Athanasios Tsakris |
| author_sort | Nikolaos Siafakas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | GII.4 noroviruses have caused the overwhelming majority of norovirus-related gastroenteritis cases during the past two decades. However, a trend towards the emergence of new genotypes and novel GII.4 variants provided the impetus to explore further the changing patterns in norovirus epidemiology during the present study. Genotyping of 60 norovirus strains detected during a period of 33 months (January 2016–October 2018) was performed on the basis of the capsid VP1-coding ORF2 gene sequence. All norovirus strains detected were classified into seven genotypes, six of which belonged to genogroup GII. GII.2 was the dominant genotype till February 2017, whereas GII.4 prevailed thereafter. Most of the GII.4 strains were of the Sydney_2012 variant, whereas five strains could not be classified. Further recombination analysis at the ORF1/ORF2 gene junction revealed that 23 out of 24 strains were recombinant, thereby showcasing the significant role of genetic recombination in norovirus evolution and epidemiology. Continuous genomic surveillance and molecular characterization are essential for tracking norovirus evolution, which could contribute to the elucidation of new aspects of virus–host interactions that potentially affect host morbidity and epidemiology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:31:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95a97070b76d4d7686440d33c8efc7ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:31:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-95a97070b76d4d7686440d33c8efc7ff2023-12-22T14:25:55ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-11-011112288510.3390/microorganisms11122885Predominance of Recombinant Norovirus Strains in Greece, 2016–2018Nikolaos Siafakas0Cleo Anastassopoulou1Maria Lafazani2Genovefa Chronopoulou3Emmanouil Rizos4Spyridon Pournaras5Athanasios Tsakris6Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, ATTIKON University Hospital, 12462 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreeceClinical Microbiology Laboratory, ATTIKON University Hospital, 12462 Athens, GreeceBiopathology Department, Athens Medical Center, 5-7 Distomou Str., 15125 Marousi, Greece2nd Department of Psychiatry, ATTIKON University Hospital, 12462 Athens, GreeceClinical Microbiology Laboratory, ATTIKON University Hospital, 12462 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreeceGII.4 noroviruses have caused the overwhelming majority of norovirus-related gastroenteritis cases during the past two decades. However, a trend towards the emergence of new genotypes and novel GII.4 variants provided the impetus to explore further the changing patterns in norovirus epidemiology during the present study. Genotyping of 60 norovirus strains detected during a period of 33 months (January 2016–October 2018) was performed on the basis of the capsid VP1-coding ORF2 gene sequence. All norovirus strains detected were classified into seven genotypes, six of which belonged to genogroup GII. GII.2 was the dominant genotype till February 2017, whereas GII.4 prevailed thereafter. Most of the GII.4 strains were of the Sydney_2012 variant, whereas five strains could not be classified. Further recombination analysis at the ORF1/ORF2 gene junction revealed that 23 out of 24 strains were recombinant, thereby showcasing the significant role of genetic recombination in norovirus evolution and epidemiology. Continuous genomic surveillance and molecular characterization are essential for tracking norovirus evolution, which could contribute to the elucidation of new aspects of virus–host interactions that potentially affect host morbidity and epidemiology.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2885norovirusgenetic recombinationepidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Nikolaos Siafakas Cleo Anastassopoulou Maria Lafazani Genovefa Chronopoulou Emmanouil Rizos Spyridon Pournaras Athanasios Tsakris Predominance of Recombinant Norovirus Strains in Greece, 2016–2018 Microorganisms norovirus genetic recombination epidemiology |
| title | Predominance of Recombinant Norovirus Strains in Greece, 2016–2018 |
| title_full | Predominance of Recombinant Norovirus Strains in Greece, 2016–2018 |
| title_fullStr | Predominance of Recombinant Norovirus Strains in Greece, 2016–2018 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predominance of Recombinant Norovirus Strains in Greece, 2016–2018 |
| title_short | Predominance of Recombinant Norovirus Strains in Greece, 2016–2018 |
| title_sort | predominance of recombinant norovirus strains in greece 2016 2018 |
| topic | norovirus genetic recombination epidemiology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2885 |
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