Genetic Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationship of Human Norovirus Sequences Derived from Municipalities within the Sverdlovsk Region of Russia
Roman Bykov,
Tarek Itani,
Polina Starikova,
Svetlana Skryabina,
Anastasia Kilyachina,
Stanislav Koltunov,
Sergey Romanov,
Aleksandr Semenov
Affiliations
Roman Bykov
Federal Budgetary Institution of Science, «Federal Scientific Research Institute of Viral Infections «Virome»», Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Ekaterinburg 620030, Russia
Tarek Itani
Federal Budgetary Institution of Science, «Federal Scientific Research Institute of Viral Infections «Virome»», Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Ekaterinburg 620030, Russia
Polina Starikova
Federal Budgetary Institution of Science, «Federal Scientific Research Institute of Viral Infections «Virome»», Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Ekaterinburg 620030, Russia
Svetlana Skryabina
Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing in the Sverdlovsk Region, Ekaterinburg 620078, Russia
Anastasia Kilyachina
Federal Budgetary Healthcare Institution «Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Sverdlovsk Region», Ekaterinburg 620078, Russia
Stanislav Koltunov
Federal Budgetary Healthcare Institution «Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Sverdlovsk Region», Ekaterinburg 620078, Russia
Sergey Romanov
Federal Budgetary Healthcare Institution «Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Sverdlovsk Region», Ekaterinburg 620078, Russia
Aleksandr Semenov
Federal Budgetary Institution of Science, «Federal Scientific Research Institute of Viral Infections «Virome»», Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Ekaterinburg 620030, Russia
Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are highly contagious pathogens responsible of norovirus-associated acute gastroenteritis (AGE). GII.4 is the prevailing HuNoV genotype worldwide. Currently there are no studies on the molecular monitoring and phylogenetic analysis of HuNoVs in the territory of the Sverdlovsk region; therefore, it is not possible to objectively assess their genetic diversity. The aim of the study is to carry out genotyping and phylogenetic analysis of HuNoVs in the Sverdlovsk region from 2022 to 2023. Fecal samples (n = 510) were collected from children suffering from HuNoV-AGE in municipalities of the Sverdlovsk region and the capsid genotype was determined by amplifying the ORF1/ORF2 junction. Of the 196 HuNoVs typed, which represent 38% of the studied samples, the largest share of HuNoV genotypes belong to the GII genogroup—86%, followed by the GI genogroup—14%. Noroviruses GII.4 and GII.17 were the co-dominant capsid genotypes (33.2% each). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that the identified sequences on the territory of the Sverdlovsk region have the smallest genetic distance, which gives grounds for their unification into a common cluster. Routine monitoring and phylogenetic analysis of circulating norovirus pathogens spectrum will enable timely tracking of HuNoVs genetic diversity and evolutionary events. This will lead to the development of more effective anti-epidemic measures, ultimately reducing the burden of infectious diseases.
