Rotavirus VP6

The epidemiology and evolutionary patterns of RVs are being documented by studies of viruses from humans and a variety of animal species. RVs are broadly classified based on the serologic reactivity and genetic variability of the middle capsid structural protein VP6 into eight groups/species (RVA-RVH).

The inner capsid protein, VP6, is a trimer representing 51% of the virion mass. According to the antigenic variation of VP6, RVs are classified into seven groups (A to G). Depending on the presence or absence of two different epitopes in the VP6 protein, group A RV strains are further divided into subgroups (Sb) I, II, I+II, and no I no II. Despite the different subgroups mentioned, VP6 is a strongly conserved protein among all group A RVs (>90% amino acid homology). It is highly immunogenic and constitutes the target antigen of most immunodiagnosis tests for group A RV detection