Novel insights of waterborne human rotavirus A in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) involving G2 predominance and emergence of a thermotolerant sequence

Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 9;11(1):12132. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91607-3.

Abstract

The routine evaluation of water environments is necessary to manage enteric virus-mediated fecal contamination and the possible emergence of novel variants. Here, we detected human rotavirus A (HRVA) circulating in two wastewater treatment plants, two lakes, irrigation water and a wastewater landfill located in Riyadh. VP7-derived surface protein sequences were assessed by phylogenetic analyses and inspection of thermotolerance-mediated secondary structure and seasonal variation. HRVA was most prevalent at An-Nazim wastewater landfill (AN-WWLF; 63.89%). Phylogenetic analyzes revealed the predominance of HRVA G2 lineage for the first time in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, a single HRVA sequence (2B64I-ANLF3/2018) was recovered at 45 °C from AN-WWLF; secondary structure prediction indicated that this sequence was thermotolerant with a high hydrophobicity, an absence of Ramachandran outliers, and a higher content of proline patches on the protein surface. Varied relationships were significantly observed between sampling areas influenced by temperature ranges (p < 0.05). HRVA prevalence was influenced by seasonal variations, favoring moderate temperatures in late autumn and early winter in all locations. However, a significant temperature impact was detected in Wadi-Hanifah Lake (p = 0.01). Our study extends the knowledge of currently circulating HRVA genotypes, and indicates the probable emergence of thermotolerant strains and seasonally mediated HRVA prevalence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antigens, Viral / genetics*
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Rotavirus / classification*
  • Rotavirus / genetics*
  • Rotavirus / isolation & purification
  • Rotavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Rotavirus Infections / genetics*
  • Rotavirus Infections / virology
  • Thermotolerance*

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Capsid Proteins
  • DNA, Viral
  • VP7 protein, Rotavirus