RV-Typer

RV-Typer: Alignment-Free Serotype Assignment of Rhinovirus VP1 Sequences

RV-Typer assigns serotypes of Rhinovirus-A, Rhinovirus-B, and Rhinovirus-C by analyzing return time distribution (RTD) patterns of amino acid residues in the VP1 protein using an alignment-free approach.

Key Features:

• Return Time Distribution (RTD) Analysis: Computes return times of di-peptides (k = 2) in VP1 amino acid sequences to classify serotypes.
• Flexible Input: Accepts nucleotide or protein sequences for serotype determination.
• High Sensitivity and Specificity: Achieves 100% sensitivity and specificity in serotype assignment.
• Alignment-Free Classification: Eliminates sequence alignment and phylogenetic reconstruction for serotyping new isolates.

Scientific Applications:

• Viral Genotyping and Epidemiology: Supports rapid serotype identification of Enterovirus genus members within the Picornaviridae family for studies of viral diversity, outbreak tracking, and vaccine development.

Methodology:

VP1 nucleotide or protein sequences are analyzed to calculate di-peptide (k = 2) return time distributions. RTD-derived features are used to assign serotypes for Rhinovirus-A, -B, and -C without sequence alignment or cross-neutralization assays.