Medycyna Wet. 62 (11), 1215-1218, 2006
| Bigoraj E., Mizak B., Król J. |
| Rotaviruses structure the etiological agent of human gastroenteritis |
| Rotavirus gastroenteritis has been recognized as the most important cause of acute diarrhea in children between 6 months and two-years-of-age in industrialized countries. Rotaviruses are classified as a genus within Reoviridae family and have a characteristic wheel-like shape. The concentric icosahedral viral capsid, 60-70 nm in diameter, is made up of two protein layers and encloses 11 segments of genomic double-stranded RNA. Each segment of RNA represents one gene that encodes a virus-specific protein. Rotaviruses also contain the spike protein VP4 and a major capsid component, VP7, both of which are responsible for their entry into a cell. Natural infection reduces the incidence and severity of subsequent episodes, rotavirus diarrhea might be controlled through vaccination. Serotype-specific immunity may play a role in protection from the disease. |
| Keywords: rotavirus, capsid proteins, protein functions |