Isolation and characterization of dually reactive strains of group a rotavirus from hospitalized children.

Seven rotavirus strains dually reactive to serotype G1- and G2-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) from hospitalized children with rotavirus diarrhea were culture adapted. Six strains were neutralized with G1 antiserum to a higher titer than that of G2, and one was neutralized with G1 and G2 antisera to equal titers. Of these, four strains were also neutralized with G6 antiserum. Five strains with short RNA pattern could not be serotyped, and the remaining two strains with long RNA pattern were serotyped as G1 strains. In addition, two strains showing dual reactivity to G2 and G4 MAbs and one G2-like strain from a nontypeable specimen were isolated. The dual reactivity of the isolates could not be attributed to mixed infections.