Rotavirus A shedding and HBGA host genetic susceptibility in a birth community-cohort, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2014-2018

Recent studies have investigated whether the human histo-blood group antigen (HBGAs) could affect the effectiveness of the oral rotavirus vaccines, suggesting secretor positive individuals develop a more robust response. We investigated the Rotavirus A (RVA) shedding in association with the host susceptibility profile in children from a birth community-cohort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 2014 to 2018. A total of 132 children were followed-up between 0 to 11-month-old, stool samples were collected before/after the 1(st)/2(nd) RV1 vaccination doses and saliva samples were collected during the study. RVA shedding was screened by RT-qPCR and G/P genotypes determined by multiplex RT-PCR and/or Sanger nucleotide sequencing. The sequencing indicated an F167L amino acid change in the RV1 VP8* P[8] in 20.5% of shedding follow-ups and these mutant subpopulations were quantified by pyrosequencing. The HBGA/secretor status was determined and 80.3% of the children were secretors. Twenty-one FUT2 gene SNPs were identified and two new mutations were observed. The mutant F167L RV1 VP8* P[8] was detected significantly more in Le (a+b+) secretors (90.5%) compared to non-secretors and even to secretors Le (a-b+) (9.5%). The study highlights the probable association between RV1 shedding and HBGAs as a marker for evaluating vaccine strain host susceptibility. Funding Agencies|Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz/PAEF; "The Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support in the State of Rio de Janeiro" (FAPERJ)Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) [E-26/202.968/2015]; "The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development" (CNPq)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) [424376/2016-4]; "Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel - CAPES"- PrInt-Fiocruz-CAPESCAPES; PROGRAMA DE PROFESSOR VISITANTE NO EXTERIOR [88881.337140/2019-01]