Characterization of a G1P[8] rotavirus causing an outbreak of XXXX in the Northern Territory, Australia, in the vaccine era.

@entity1 @entity3689 @entity1902
In 2010, a large outbreak of @entity1902 occurred in the Alice Springs region of the Northern Territory, Australia. The outbreak occurred 43 months after the introduction of the G1P[8] rotavirus vaccine Rotarix(  ). Forty-three @entity1 were hospitalized during the outbreak and analysis of fecal samples from each @entity1 revealed a G1P[8] rotavirus strain. The outbreak strain was adapted to cell culture and neutralization assays were performed using VP7 and VP4 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. The outbreak strain exhibited a distinct neutralization resistance pattern compared to the Rotarix(  ) vaccine strain. Whole genome sequencing of the 2010 outbreak virus strain demonstrated numerous @entity3689 differences compared to the Rotarix(  ) vaccine strain in the characterized neutralization epitopes of the VP7 and VP4 proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of the outbreak strain revealed a close genetic relationship to global strains, in particular RVA/ @entity1 -wt/BEL/BE0098/2009/G1P[8] and RVA/ @entity1 -wt/BEL/BE00038/2008/G1P[8] for numerous genes. The 2010 outbreak strain was likely introduced from a globally circulating population of strains rather than evolving from an endemic Australian strain. The outbreak strain possessed antigenic differences in the VP7 and VP4 proteins compared to the Rotarix(  ) vaccine strain. The outbreak was associated with moderate vaccine coverage and possibly low vaccine take in the population.
