Rotavirus VP7 glycoprotein (G2 serotype) (VP7 (G2))

The Rotavirus VP7 glycoprotein (G2 serotype) is a critical structural protein located on the outer surface of the rotavirus virion, which is the primary cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide (CDC, 2023). This protein, often presented in vaccines as a Rotavirus G2 reassortant, is responsible for viral attachment to host cells and is a major target for the host's neutralizing antibody response (PubMed, 2018). In the pentavalent RotaTeq vaccine, the G2 reassortant is created by placing the human G2 VP7 gene into a bovine rotavirus backbone, allowing for safe exposure and immune priming (FDA, 2020). The biological function of this target in a therapeutic context is to elicit protective immunity against naturally occurring G2 rotavirus strains, which frequently undergo genetic drift and reassortment (WHO, 2021). While highly effective at reducing hospitalizations, the use of this target in live vaccines carries a small, statistically significant risk of intussusception, a form of bowel obstruction (StatPearls, 2023). Monitoring for this target's efficacy typically involves measuring serum anti-rotavirus IgA levels as a correlate of protection (NIH, 2022).

Other names

Rotavirus G2 reassortantHuman-bovine rotavirus reassortant G2G2 serotype antigenVP7 protein (G2)Rotavirus serotype G2

Induction of active immunity through the production of neutralizing antibodies against the VP7 glycoprotein of the G2 serotype.