The VP7 gene of a new G serotype of human rotavirus (B37) is similar to G3 proteins in the antigenic c region.

The human rotavirus isolate B37 has a characteristic "super-short" RNA electropherotype and has been shown to represent a new VP7 serotype (M. J. Albert, L. E. Unicomb, and R. F. Bishop, 1987, J. Clin. Microbiol. 25, 183-185). The VP7 gene was cloned, and its nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences were compared to other published VP7 gene sequences. Consistent with the serological evidence, two major antigenic regions of the B37 VP7 (i.e., regions A and B) differ in sequence from those of other G serotypes. Unexpectedly, the C antigenic region shows close similarity to G3 rotaviruses, but we were unable to detect a serological relationship using serotype 3 monoclonal antibodies.