Interspecies Transmission of Animal Rotaviruses to Humans: Reassortment-Driven Adaptation.

ABSTRACT: Rotavirus alphagastroenteritidis (rotavirus) infects a broad range of hosts, including humans and various animal species. Its genome comprises 11 segments of double-stranded RNA, making it highly prone to genetic diversity through gene reassortment. Although rotavirus strains are typically host-specific, novel human strains with global impact often originate from interspecies transmission of animal rotaviruses. This review explores the critical role of interspecies transmission coupled with genetic reassortment in rotavirus adaptation to humans, contextualizing key studies and methodological advances. Central to this progress was the development of tools to analyse entire genomes and distinguish homologous from heterologous strains. We trace the evolution from RNA-RNA hybridisation

SUBMITTER: Nakagomi T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12735868 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature