Search

Human norovirus (HuNoV), the leading cause of foodborne acute gastroenteritis, poses a serious threat to public health. Traditional disinfection methods lead to destructions of food properties and functions, and/or environmental contaminations. Green and efficient approaches are urgently needed to disinfect HuNoV. Plasma-activated water (PAW) containing amounts of reactive species is an emerging nonthermal and eco-friendly disinfectant towards the pathogenic microorganisms. However, the disinfection efficacy and mechanism of PAW on HuNoV has not yet been studied. Murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) is one of the most commonly used HuNoV surrogates to evaluate the efficacy of disinfectants. In the current study, the inactivation efficacy of MNV-1 by PAW was investigated. The results demonstrated that PAW significantly inactivated MNV-1, reducing the viral titer from approximately 6 log 10 TCID 50 /mL to non-detectable level. The decreased pH, increased oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and conductivity of PAW were observed compared with that of deionized water. Compositional analysis revealed that hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), nitrate (NO 3 - ) and hydroxyl radical (OH) were the functional reactive species in MNV-1 inactivation. L-histidine could scavenge most of the inactivation effect in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, PAW could induce damage to viral proteins. Part of MNV-1 particles was destroyed, while others were structurally intact without infectiousness. After 45 days of storage at 4 °C, PAW generated with 80 % O 2 and 100 % O 2 could still reduce over 4 log 10 TCID 50 /mL of the viral titer. In addition, PAW prepared using hard water induced approximately 6 log 10 TCID 50 /mL reduction of MNV-1. PAW treatment of MNV-1-inoculated blueberries reduced the viral titer from 3.79 log 10 TCID 50 /mL to non-detectable level. Together, findings of the current study uncovered the crucial reactive species in PAW inactivate MNV-1 and provided a potential disinfection strategy to combat HuNoV in foods, water, and environment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Norovirus (NoV) is the main pathogen that causes acute gastroenteritis and brings a heavy socio-economic burden worldwide. In this study, five polysaccharide fractions, labeled pSFP-1-5, were isolated and purified from Sargassum fusiforme (S. fusiforme). In vitro experiments demonstrated that pSFP-5 significantly prevented the binding of type A, B and H histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) to NoV GII.4 virus-like particles (NoV GII.4 VLPs). In addition, in vivo experiments revealed that pSFP-5 was effective in reducing the accumulation of NoV in oysters, indicating that pSFP-5 could reduce the risk of NoV infection from oyster consumption. The results of transmission electron microscopy showed that the appearance of NoV GII.4 VLPs changed after pSFP-5 treatment, indicating that pSFP-5 may achieve antiviral ability by altering the morphological structure of the viral particles so that they could not bind to HBGAs. The results of the present study indicate that pSFP-5 may be an effective anti-NoV substance and can be used as a potential anti-NoV drug component., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Aims: Enteric viruses are recognized as a major concern in health care and in the food sector in Canada. Novel clean-label strategies for controlling enteric viruses are sought in the food industry. In this study, we examined the antiviral potential of plant extracts and essential oils on murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1), hepatitis A virus (HAV), and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)., Methods and Results: Inactivation of the viruses by grape seed, blueberry, green tea, and cranberry extracts and by rosemary and thyme essential oils was measured using plaque formation assay. Concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 000 ppm with a contact time of 90 min were tested. Grape seed extract at 10 000 ppm was the most effective (P < 0.05) at reducing MNV-1 and HAV infectious titers, respectively, by 2.85 ± 0.44 log10 and 1.94 ± 0.17 log10. HSV-1 titer was reduced by 3.81 ± 0.40 log10 at 1000 ppm grape seed extract., Conclusions: Among the plant products tested, grape seed extract was found the most effective at reducing the infectious titers of MNV-1, HAV, and HSV., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.)

Gastroenteritis and hepatitis are the most common illnesses resulting from the consumption of food contaminated with human enteric viruses. Several natural compounds have demonstrated antiviral activity against human enteric viruses, such as human norovirus and hepatitis A virus, while little information is available for hepatitis E virus. Many in-vitro studies have evaluated the efficacy of different natural compounds against human enteric viruses or their surrogates. However, only few studies have investigated their antiviral activity in food applications. Among them, green tea extract, grape seed extract and carrageenans have been extensively investigated as antiviral natural compounds to improve food safety. Indeed, these extracts have been studied as sanitizers on food-contact surfaces, in produce washing solutions, as active fractions in antiviral food-packaging materials, and in edible coatings. The most innovative applications of these antiviral natural extracts include the development of coatings to extend the shelf life of berries or their combination with established food technologies for improved processes. This review summarizes existing knowledge in the underexplored field of natural compounds for enhancing the safety of viral-contaminated foods and underscores the research needs to be covered in the near future., (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Reclaimed water poses environmental and human health risks due to residual organic micropollutants and pathogens. Ozonation of reclaimed water to control pathogens and trace organics is an important step in advanced water treatment systems for potable reuse of reclaimed water. Ensuring efficient pathogen reduction while controlling disinfection byproducts remains a significant challenge to implementing ozonation in reclaimed water reuse applications. This study aimed to investigate ozonation conditions using a plug flow reactor (PFR) to achieve effective pathogen removal/inactivation while minimizing bromate and N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation. The pilot scale study was conducted using three doses of ozone (0.7, 1.0 and 1.4 ozone/total organic carbon (O 3 /TOC) ratio) to determine the disinfection performance using actual reclaimed water. The disinfection efficiency was assessed by measuring total coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV), Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) and Norovirus (HNoV). The ozone CT values ranged from 1.60 to 13.62 mg min L -1 , resulting in significant reductions in pathogens and indicators. Specifically, ozone treatment led to concentration reductions of 2.46-2.89, 2.03-2.18, 0.46-1.63, 2.23-2.64 and > 4 log for total coliforms, E. coli, PMMoV, ToBRFV, and HNoV, respectively. After ozonation, concentrations of bromate and NDMA increased, reaching levels between 2.8 and 12.0 μg L -1 , and 28-40.0 ng L -1 , respectively, for average feed water bromide levels of 86.7 ± 1.8 μg L -1 and TOC levels of 7.2 ± 0.1 mg L -1 . The increases in DBP formation were pronounced with higher ozone dosages, possibly requiring removal/control in subsequent treatment steps in some potable reuse applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Edible insects are gaining attention as potential nutraceutical sources with immunomodulatory properties. This study reports purification and structural characterization of polysaccharides from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae (PBSL) with antiviral activity against murine norovirus. Four polysaccharide fractions purified from PBSL water extracts exhibited varying molecular weights (458.5-627.3 kDa) and monosaccharide compositions, including glucose (42.4-99.2 %), galactose (5.9-13.9 %), rhamnose (0.7-18.7 %), arabinose (3.8-5.4 %), and glucuronic acid (0-15.3 %). The immunomodulatory activity, assessed by interferon-β (IFN-β) production, positively correlated with higher galactose, mannose, rhamnose, and uronic acid contents. Among the fractions, PBS-P, eluted with 0.5 M NaCl, demonstrated superior in vitro antiviral activity with IFN-β production exceeding 8-fold compared to other fractions and 82-fold higher than PBSL water extract, confirming it as the main antiviral active component. Structural analysis revealed PBS-P backbone consisted of α-(1 → 4)-D-Glcp, α-(1 → 4,6)-D-Glcp, α-(1 → 4)-D-GlcpA, α-(1 → 3)-D-Galp and α-(1 → 4)-D-Manp residues, and branched chains of α-D-Glcp-(1→, and α-L-Arap-(1 → 2)-α-L-Rhap-(1 → residues. PBS-P suppressed norovirus replication by stimulating IFN-β, TNF-α, and activating NF-κB, STAT1/2, and TBK1-IRF3 pathways, and its oral administration reduced viral loads in infected mice intestines. This study provides the first report on the detailed structural feature of polysaccharide from an edible insect and its antiviral mechanism, highlighting its potential as a new antiviral agent., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the developed world and a major contributor to gastroenteritis globally. Its low infectious dose and environmental persistence necessitate effective disinfection protocols. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) bleach is a widely used disinfectant for controlling HuNoV transmission via contaminated fomites. This study aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of HuNoV genotypes (n = 11) from genogroups I, II, and IV to NaOCl in suspension. HuNoV was incubated for 1 and 5 min in diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) treated water containing 50 ppm, 100 ppm, or 150 ppm NaOCl, buffered to maintain a pH between 7.0 and 7.5. Neutralization was achieved by a tenfold dilution into 100% fetal bovine serum. RNase pre-treatment followed by RT-qPCR was used to distinguish between infectious and non-infectious HuNoV. Statistical methods, including imputation, machine learning, and generalized linear models, were applied to process and analyze the data. Results showed that NaOCl reduced viral loads across all genotypes, though efficacy varied. Genotypes GI.1, GII.4 New Orleans, and GII.4 Sydney were the least susceptible, while GII.6 and GII.13 were the most susceptible. All NaOCl concentrations above 0 ppm were statistically indistinguishable, and exposure duration did not significantly affect HuNoV reduction, suggesting rapid inactivation at effective concentrations. For instance, some genotypes were completely inactivated within 1 min, rendering extended exposure unnecessary, while other genotypes maintained the initial concentration at both 1 and 5 min, indicating a need for longer contact times. These findings underscore the critical role of HuNoV genotype selection in testing disinfection protocols and optimizing NaOCl concentrations. Understanding HuNoV susceptibility to NaOCl bleach informs better disinfection strategies, aiding public health and food safety authorities in reducing HuNoV transmission and outbreaks., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Copper has well-documented antibacterial effects but few have evaluated it after prolonged use and against bacteria and viruses. Coupons from three copper formulations (solid, thermal coating, and decal applications) and carbon steel controls were subjected to 200 rounds simulated cleaning using a Wiperator™ and either an accelerated hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium, or artificial sweat products. Antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was then evaluated using a modified Environmental Protection Agency protocol. Antiviral activity against coronavirus (229E) and norovirus (MNV-1) surrogates was assessed using the TCID 50 method. Results were compared to untreated control coupons. One hour after inoculation, S. aureus exhibited a difference in log kill of 1.16 to 4.87 and P. aeruginosa a log kill difference of 3.39-5.23 (dependent upon copper product and disinfectant) compared to carbon steel. MNV-1 demonstrated an 87-99% reduction on each copper surfaces at 1 h and 99% reduction at 2 h compared to carbon steel. Similarly, coronavirus 229E exhibited a 97-99% reduction after 1 h and 90-99% after 2 h. Simulated use with artificial sweat did not hinder the antiviral nor the antibacterial activity of Cu surfaces. Self-sanitizing copper surfaces maintained antibacterial and antiviral activity after 200 rounds of simulated cleaning., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Human norovirus was discovered more than five decades ago and is a widespread cause of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis. There are no approved vaccines or antivirals currently available. However, norovirus inhibitors, including capsid-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) and nanobodies, have recently shown promising results. Several Mabs and nanobodies were found to inhibit norovirus replication using a human intestinal enteroid (HIE) culture system and/or could block norovirus attachment to histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) co-factors. In our pursuit to develop a single broad-spectrum norovirus therapeutic, we continued our analysis and development of a cross-reactive and HBGA interfering nanobody (NB26). To improve NB26 binding capacity and therapeutic potential, we conjugated NB26 onto a human IgG Fc domain (Fc-NB26). We confirmed that Fc-NB26 cross-reacts with genetically diverse GII genotype capsid protruding (P) domains (GII.8, GII.14, GII.17, GII.24, GII.26, and GII.NA1) using a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, X-ray crystallography structures of these P domains and structures of other GII genotypes reveal that the NB26 binding site is largely conserved, validating its broad reactivity. We showed that Fc-NB26 has ~100-fold higher affinity toward the norovirus P domain compared to native NB26. We also found that both NB26 and Fc-NB26 neutralize human norovirus replication in the HIE culture system. Furthermore, the mode of inhibition confirmed that like NB26, Fc-NB26 caused norovirus particle disassembly and aggregation. Overall, these new findings demonstrate that structural modifications to nanobodies can improve their therapeutic potential.IMPORTANCEDeveloping vaccines and antivirals against norovirus remains a challenge, mainly due to the constant genetic and antigenic evolution. Moreover, re-infection with genetically related and/or antigenic variants is not uncommon. We further developed our leading norovirus nanobody (NB26) that indirectly interfered with norovirus binding to HBGAs, by converting NB26 into a dimeric Fc-linked Nanobody (Fc-NB26). We found that Fc-NB26 had improved binding affinity and neutralization capacity compared with native NB26. Using X-ray crystallography, we showed this nanobody engaged highly conserved capsid residues among genetically diverse noroviruses. Development of such broadly reactive potent therapeutic nanobodies delivered as a slow-releasing prophylactic could be of exceptional value for norovirus outbreaks, especially for the prevention or treatment of severe acute gastroenteritis in high-risk groups such as the young, elderly, and immunocompromised., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are a diverse group of RNA viruses that cause endemic and pandemic acute viral gastroenteritis. Previously, we reported that many HuNoV strains require bile or bile acid (BA) to infect human jejunal intestinal enteroid cultures. BA was not essential for the replication of a pandemic-causing GII.4 HuNoV strain. We found the hydrophobic BA glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) promotes the replication of the BA-dependent strain GII.3 in jejunal enteroids. Furthermore, we found that inhibition of the G-protein-coupled BA receptor, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2), by JTE-013, reduced GII.3 infection dose-dependently and inhibited GII.3 cellular uptake in enteroids. Herein, we sought to determine whether S1PR2 is required for other BA-dependent HuNoV strains, the BA-independent GII.4, and whether S1PR2 is required for BA-dependent HuNoV infection in HIEs from other small intestinal segments. We found a second S1PR2 inhibitor, GLPG2938, reduces GII.3 infection dose-dependently, and an S1PR2 agonist (CYM-5520) enhances GII.3 replication in the absence of GCDCA. GII.3 replication also is abrogated in the presence of JTE-013 and CYM-5520. JTE-013 inhibition of S1PR2 in jejunal HIEs reduces GI.1, GII.3, and GII.17 (BA-dependent) but not GII.4 Sydney (BA-independent) infection, providing additional evidence of strain-specific differences in HuNoV infection. Finally, GII.3 infection of duodenal, jejunal, and ileal lines derived from the same individual is reduced with S1PR2 inhibition, indicating a common mechanism of BA-dependent infection among multiple segments of the small intestine. Our results support a model where BA-dependent HuNoVs exploit BA effects on S1PR2 to infect the entire small intestine.IMPORTANCEHuman noroviruses (HuNoVs) are important viral human pathogens that cause both outbreaks and sporadic gastroenteritis. These viruses are diverse, and many strains are capable of infecting humans. Our previous studies have identified strain-specific requirements for hydrophobic bile acids (BAs) to infect intestinal epithelial cells. Moreover, we identified a BA receptor, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2), required for infection by a BA-dependent strain. To better understand how various HuNoV strains enter and infect the small intestine and the role of S1PR2 in HuNoV infection, we evaluated infection by additional HuNoV strains using an expanded repertoire of intestinal enteroid cell lines. We found that multiple BA-dependent strains, but not a BA-independent strain, all require S1PR2 for infection. In addition, BA-dependent infection requires S1PR2 in multiple segments of the small intestine. Together, these results indicate that S1PR2 has value as a potential therapeutic target for BA-dependent HuNoV infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is an enteric infectious pathogen belonging to the Caliciviridae family that causes occasional epidemics. Circulating alcohol-tolerant viral particles that are readily transmitted via food-borne routes significantly contribute to the global burden of HuNoV-induced gastroenteritis. Moreover, contact with enzymes secreted by other microorganisms in the environment can impact the infectivity of viruses. Hence, understanding the circulation dynamics of Caliciviridae is critical to mitigating epidemics. Accordingly, in this study, we screened whether environmentally abundant secretase components, particularly proteases, affect Caliciviridae infectivity. Results showed that combining Bacillaceae serine proteases with epsilon-poly-L-lysine (EPL) produced by Streptomyces-a natural antimicrobial-elicited anti-Caliciviridae properties, including against the epidemic HuNoV GII.4&#95;Sydney&#95;2012 strain. In vitro and in vivo biochemical and virological analyses revealed that EPL has two unique synergistic viral inactivation functions. First, it maintains an optimal pH to promote viral surface conformational changes to the protease-sensitive structure. Subsequently, it inhibits viral RNA genome release via partial protease digestion at the P2 and S domains in the VP1 capsid. This study provides new insights regarding the high-dimensional environmental interactions between bacteria and Caliciviridae, while promoting the development of protease-based anti-viral disinfectants., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Human norovirus (HuNoV), a primary cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis, currently lacks approved treatment. RdRp is vital for virus replication, making it an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. By application of structure-based virtual screening procedure, we present CX-6258 hydrochloride hydrate as a potent RdRp non-nucleoside inhibitor, effectively inhibiting HuNoV RdRp activity with an IC 50 of 3.61 μM. Importantly, this compound inhibits viral replication in cell culture, with an EC 50 of 0.88 μM. In vitro binding assay validate that CX-6258 hydrochloride hydrate binds to RdRp through interaction with the "B-site" binding pocket. Interestingly, CX-6258-contacting residues such as R392, Q439, and Q414 are highly conserved among major norovirus GI and GII variants, suggesting that it may be a general inhibitor of norovirus RdRp. Given that CX-6258 hydrochloride hydrate is already utilized as an orally efficacious pan-Pim kinase inhibitor, it may serve as a potential lead compound in the effort to control HuNoV infections., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The ongoing battle against viral pandemics continues, with the possibility of future outbreaks. The search for effective antiviral compounds that can combat a diverse range of viruses continues to be a focal point of research. This study investigated the efficacy of two natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) (lactoferricin and LL-37), two synthetic AMPs (melimine and Mel4), and nine AMP mimics (758, 1091, 1096, 1083, 610, NAPL, 3-BIPL, 4-BIPL, and Sau-22) against influenza A virus strains H1N1 and H3N2, human adenovirus 5 (HAdV-5), and murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1). These compounds were tested using virus pre-treatment, cell pre-treatment, or post-cell entry treatment assays, electron microscopy, and circular dichroism (CD), alongside evaluations of cytotoxicity against the host cells. After virus pre-treatment, the AMP mimics 610 and Sau-22 had relatively low IC 50 values for influenza strains H1N1 (2.35 and 6.93 µM, respectively) and H3N2 (3.7 and 5.34 µM, respectively). Conversely, natural and synthetic AMPs were not active against these strains. For the non-enveloped viruses, the AMP Mel4 and mimic 1083 had moderate activity against HAdV-5 (Mel4 IC 50 = 47.4 µM; 1083 IC 50 = 47.2 µM), whereas all AMPs, but none of the mimics, were active against norovirus (LL-37 IC 50 = 4.2 µM; lactoferricin IC 50 = 23.18 µM; melimine IC 50 = 4.8 µM; Mel4 IC 50 = 8.6 µM). Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the mimics targeted the outer envelope of influenza viruses, while the AMPs targeted the capsid of non-enveloped viruses. CD showed that Mel4 adopted an α-helical structure in a membrane mimetic environment, but mimic 758 remained unstructured. The diverse activity against different virus groups is probably influenced by charge, hydrophobicity, size, and, in the case of natural and synthetic AMPs, their secondary structure. These findings underscore the potential of peptides and mimics as promising candidates for antiviral therapeutics against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.

Carpet cleaning guidelines currently do not include the use of an antimicrobial, except after a bodily fluid event. To address this gap, we compared the efficacy of three antimicrobials-two hydrogen peroxide-based (H 2 O 2 ) products (A and B) and one chlorine-based product (C)-and a steam treatment against two norovirus surrogates, specifically feline calicivirus (FCV) and Tulane virus (TuV). These tests were performed on nylon carpets with either water-permeable or waterproof backing types. The effect of repeated antimicrobial use on carpet properties was also evaluated. For a carpet with water-permeable backing, products A, B, and C achieved a 0.8, 3.1, and 0.9 log 10 PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and 0.3, 2.5, and 0.4 log 10 TCID 50 /coupon reduction of TuV, respectively, following a 30 min contact time. For carpet with waterproof backing, only product B achieved a 5.0 log 10 PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and >3.0 log 10 TCID 50 /coupon reduction of TuV, whereas products A and C achieved a 2.4 and 1.6 log 10 PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and a 1.2 and 1.2 log 10 TCID 50 /coupon reduction of TuV, respectively. Steam treatment achieved a ≥ 5.2 log 10 PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and a > 3.2 log 10 TCID 50 /coupon reduction of TuV in 15 seconds on the carpet with both backing types. The repeated use of products A and B decreased the tensile strength of the carpet backing, while use of product B resulted in cracks on carpet fibers. Overall, steam treatment for 15 seconds was efficacious on both carpet types, but only product B achieved efficacy after a 30-minute exposure on the carpet with waterproof backing.IMPORTANCECarpets are common in long-term care facilities, despite its potential as a vehicle for transmission of agents associated with healthcare-associated infections, including human norovirus (NoV). Presently, our understanding of carpet disinfection is limited; hence, there are no commercial antimicrobials against norovirus available for use on carpets. Our findings showed that steam treatment, which minimally affected the properties of carpet fibers and backing, was more efficacious against human norovirus surrogates on carpets compared to the three chemical antimicrobials tested. Additionally, the two surrogates were more sensitive to chemical antimicrobials on the carpet with waterproof backing compared to carpets with water-permeable backing. These findings can inform development of antimicrobials for use on carpets contaminated with human norovirus., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Pentasilver hexaoxoiodate (Ag 5 IO 6 ) has broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy, including the long-term prevention of microbial adherence, the rapid killing of planktonic microorganisms, and the elimination of mature biofilms. This study's goal was to determine whether it may also have antiviral activity against structurally distinct viruses. Ag 5 IO 6 was tested following ASTM E1052-20, Standard Practice to Assess the Activity of Microbicides Against Viruses in Suspension, against adenovirus type 5, murine norovirus, poliovirus type 1, SARS-CoV-2 (original), and SARS-CoV-2 (omicron) (host cells: H1HeLa, RAW 264.7, LLC-MK2, Vero E6, and Vero E6, respectively). A 0.1 g/mL Ag 5 IO 6 suspension was prepared and the viruses were exposed for 30 min, 4 h, or 24 h. Exposure to Ag 5 IO 6 resulted in complete kill of SARS-CoV-2 (omicron) within 30 min, as well as complete kill of both SARS-CoV-2 (original) and the murine norovirus within 4 h. Ag 5 IO 6 showed increasing activity over time against the adenovirus, but did not achieve a 3-log reduction within 24 h, and showed no antiviral activity against the poliovirus. These results demonstrate that Ag 5 IO 6 has antiviral activity against medically important viruses, in addition to its well-characterized antimicrobial activity, suggesting that it may be valuable in situations where the prevention or simultaneous treatment of microbes and viruses are necessary.

As a natural nonflavonoid polyphenol compound, resveratrol is the main functional component of Reynoutria japonica and has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and other physiological activities. In this study, the effect of resveratrol on the viability of RAW264.7 cells was examined, and murine norovirus (MNV-1) was used as a surrogate for human norovirus to evaluate the inhibitory effect of resveratrol. The concentrations of resveratrol resulting in 50% cytotoxicity (CC 50 ) for RAW264.7 cells were 21.32 and 24.97 μg/mL after 24 and 48 h of incubation, respectively, and resveratrol at a concentration lower than the half-effective inhibitory concentration (EC 50 ) could not damage cell DNA. The EC 50 of resveratrol on MNV-1 in infected RAW264.7 cells was determined to equal 5.496 μg/mL. After RAW264.7 cells, virus, and a fresh mixture of virus and RAW264.7 cells were treated with resveratrol solution for 1 h (denoted cell pre-treatment, virus pre-treatment, and mixture coprocessing), the RAW264.7 cells obtained after cell pre-treatment exhibited lower virus infection, and MNV-1 obtained after virus pre-treatment and mixture coprocessing showed a decreased infectious capacity. The inhibition ratio of resveratrol on MNV-1 did not significantly differ between the treatments at 4 and 25 °C or among the various pH values except for the lower acidic condition (pH 2). TEM revealed significant changes in the morphology of MNV-1 after treatment with resveratrol, and molecular docking indicated that resveratrol strongly binds to the viral capsid protein of MNV-1. In addition, resveratrol regulated the expression of cytokine that protects against MNV-1 infection. Therefore, at a lower concentration, resveratrol, a natural component from Reynoutria japonica, exerts an inhibitory effect on MNV-1 growth and could be used as a safe additive in food products to improve the nutritional status and control norovirus., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Food-borne transmission is a recognized route for many viruses associated with gastrointestinal, hepatic, or neurological diseases. Therefore, it is essential to identify new bioactive compounds with broad-spectrum antiviral activity to exploit innovative solutions against these hazards. Recently, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been recognized as promising antiviral agents. Indeed, while the antibacterial and antifungal effects of these molecules have been widely reported, their use as potential antiviral agents has not yet been fully investigated. Herein, the antiviral activity of previously identified or newly designed AMPs was evaluated against the non-enveloped RNA viruses, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and murine norovirus (MNV), a surrogate for human norovirus. Moreover, specific assays were performed to recognize at which stage of the viral infection cycle the peptides could function. The results showed that almost all peptides displayed virucidal effects, with about 90% of infectivity reduction in HAV or MNV. However, the decapeptide RiLK1 demonstrated, together with its antibacterial and antifungal properties, a notable reduction in viral infection for both HAV and MNV, possibly through direct interaction with viral particles causing their damage or hindering the recognition of cellular receptors. Hence, RiLK1 could represent a versatile antimicrobial agent effective against various foodborne pathogens including viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis and foodborne diseases, affecting all age groups. Despite its clinical needs, no approved antiviral therapies are available. Since the discovery of HuNoV in 1972, studies on anti-norovirals, mechanism of HuNoV infection, viral inactivation, etc., have been hampered by the lack of a robust laboratory-based cultivation system for HuNoV. A recent breakthrough in the development of HuNoV cultivation systems has opened opportunities for researchers to investigate HuNoV biology in the context of de novo HuNoV infections. A tissue stem cell-derived human intestinal organoid/enteroid (HIO) culture system is one of those that supports HuNoV replication reproducibly and, to our knowledge, is most widely distributed to laboratories worldwide to study HuNoV and develop therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes recently developed HuNoV cultivation systems, including HIO, and their use in antiviral studies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A virus (IAV), and norovirus are global threats to human health. The application of effective virucidal agents, which contribute to the inactivation of viruses on hands and environmental surfaces, is important to facilitate robust virus infection control measures. Naturally derived virucidal disinfectants have attracted attention owing to their safety and eco-friendly properties. In this study, we showed that multiple Japanese Saxifraga species-derived fractions demonstrated rapid, potent virucidal activity against the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain and multiple variant strains, IAV, and two human norovirus surrogates: feline calicivirus (FCV) and murine norovirus (MNV). Condensed tannins were identified as active chemical constituents that play a central role in the virucidal activities of these fractions. At a concentration of 25 μg/mL, the purified condensed tannin fraction Sst -2R induced significant reductions in the viral titers of the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain, IAV, and FCV (reductions of ≥3.13, ≥3.00, and 2.50 log 10 50% tissue culture infective doses [TCID 50 ]/mL, respectively) within 10 s of reaction time. Furthermore, at a concentration of 100 μg/mL, Sst -2R induced a reduction of 1.75 log 10 TCID 50 /mL in the viral titers of MNV within 1 min. Western blotting and transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed that Sst -2R produced structural abnormalities in viral structural proteins and envelopes, resulting in the destruction of viral particles. Furthermore, Saxifraga species-derived fraction-containing cream showed virucidal activity against multiple viruses within 10 min. Our findings indicate that Saxifraga species-derived fractions containing condensed tannins can be used as disinfectants against multiple viruses on hands and environmental surfaces. IMPORTANCE SARS-CoV-2, IAV, and norovirus are highly contagious pathogens. The use of naturally derived components as novel virucidal/antiviral agents is currently attracting attention. We showed that fractions from extracts of Saxifraga species, in the form of a solution as well as a cream, exerted potent, rapid virucidal activities against SARS-CoV-2, IAV, and surrogates of human norovirus. Condensed tannins were found to play a central role in this activity. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the purified condensed tannin fraction at a concentration that exhibited some extent of virucidal activity was lower than that of 70% ethanol or 2,000 ppm sodium hypochlorite solution, which are popular virucidal disinfectants. Our study suggests that Saxifraga species-derived fractions containing condensed tannins can be used on hands and environmental surfaces as safe virucidal agents against multiple viruses., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Noroviruses are the leading cause of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis. These viruses usually interact with histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs), which are considered essential cofactors for norovirus infection. This study structurally characterizes nanobodies developed against the clinically important GII.4 and GII.17 noroviruses with a focus on the identification of novel nanobodies that efficiently block the HBGA binding site. Using X-ray crystallography, we have characterized nine different nanobodies that bound to the top, side, or bottom of the P domain. The eight nanobodies that bound to the top or side of the P domain were mainly genotype specific, while one nanobody that bound to the bottom cross-reacted against several genotypes and showed HBGA blocking potential. The four nanobodies that bound to the top of the P domain also inhibited HBGA binding, and structural analysis revealed that these nanobodies interacted with several GII.4 and GII.17 P domain residues that commonly engaged HBGAs. Moreover, these nanobody complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) extended completely into the cofactor pockets and would likely impede HBGA engagement. The atomic level information for these nanobodies and their corresponding binding sites provide a valuable template for the discovery of additional "designer" nanobodies. These next-generation nanobodies would be designed to target other important genotypes and variants, while maintaining cofactor interference. Finally, our results clearly demonstrate for the first time that nanobodies directly targeting the HBGA binding site can function as potent norovirus inhibitors. IMPORTANCE Human noroviruses are highly contagious and a major problem in closed institutions, such as schools, hospitals, and cruise ships. Reducing norovirus infections is challenging on multiple levels and includes the frequent emergence of antigenic variants, which complicates designing effective, broadly reactive capsid therapeutics. We successfully developed and characterized four norovirus nanobodies that bound at the HBGA pockets. Compared with previously developed norovirus nanobodies that inhibited HBGA through disrupted particle stability, these four novel nanobodies directly inhibited HBGA engagement and interacted with HBGA binding residues. Importantly, these new nanobodies specifically target two genotypes that have caused the majority of outbreaks worldwide and consequently would have an enormous benefit if they could be further developed as norovirus therapeutics. To date, we have structurally characterized 16 different GII nanobody complexes, a number of which block HBGA binding. These structural data could be used to design multivalent nanobody constructs with improved inhibition properties.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) causes acute viral gastroenteritis in all age groups, and dehydration and severe diarrhea in the elderly. The World Health Organization reports ∼1.45 million deaths from acute gastroenteritis annually in the world. Rupintrivir, an inhibitory medicine against the human rhinovirus C3 protease, has been reported to inhibit HuNoV 3C protease. However, several HuNoV 3C protease mutations have been revealed to reduce the susceptibility of HuNoV to rupintrivir. The structural details behind rupintrivir-resistance of these single-point mutations (A105V and I109V) are not still clear. Hence, in this study, a combination of computational techniques were used to determine the rupintrivir-resistance mechanism and to propose an inhibitor against wild-type and mutant HuNoV 3C protease through structure-based virtual screening. Dynamic structural results indicated the unstable binding of rupintrivir at the cleft binding site of the wild-type and mutant 3C proteases, leading to its detachment. Our findings presented that the domain II of the HuNoV 3C protease had a critical role in binding of inhibitory molecules. Binding energy computations, steered molecular dynamics and umbrella sampling simulations confirmed that amentoflavone, the novel suggested inhibitor, strongly binds to the cleft site of all protease models and has a good structural stability in the complex system along the molecular dynamic simulations. Our in silico study proposed the selected compound as a potential inhibitor against the HuNoV 3C protease. However, additional experimental and clinical studies are required to corroborate the therapeutic efficacy of the compound., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Human norovirus is the first cause of foodborne disease worldwide, leading to extensive outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis, and causing around 200,000 children to die annually in developing countries. No specific vaccines or antiviral agents are currently available, with therapeutic options limited to supportive care to prevent dehydration. The infection can become severe and lead to life-threatening complications in young children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, leading to a clear need for antiviral agents, to be used as treatments and as prophylactic measures in case of outbreaks. Due to the key role played by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) in the virus life cycle, this enzyme is a promising target for antiviral drug discovery. In previous studies, following in silico investigations, we identified different small-molecule inhibitors of this enzyme. In this study, we rationally modified five identified scaffolds, to further explore structure-activity relationships, and to enhance binding to the RdRp. The newly designed compounds were synthesized according to multiple-step synthetic routes and evaluated for their inhibition of the enzyme in vitro. New inhibitors with low micromolar inhibitory activity of the RdRp were identified, which provide a promising basis for further hit-to-lead optimization.

Norovirus is the most important cause of acute gastroenteritis, yet there are still no antivirals, vaccines, or treatments available. Several studies have shown that norovirus-specific monoclonal antibodies, Nanobodies, and natural extracts might function as inhibitors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the antiviral potential of additional natural extracts, honeys, and propolis samples. Norovirus GII.4 and GII.10 virus-like particles (VLPs) were treated with different natural samples and analyzed for their ability to block VLP binding to histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs), which are important norovirus co-factors. Of the 21 natural samples screened, date syrup and one propolis sample showed promising blocking potential. Dynamic light scattering indicated that VLPs treated with the date syrup and propolis caused particle aggregation, which was confirmed using electron microscopy. Several honey samples also showed weaker HBGA blocking potential. Taken together, our results found that natural samples might function as norovirus inhibitors., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The antinoroviral effect of copper ions is well known, yet most of this work has previously been conducted in copper and copper alloy surfaces, not copper ions in solution. In this work, we characterized the effects that Cu ions have on human norovirus capsids' and surrogates' integrity to explain empirical data, indicating virus inactivation by copper alloy surfaces, and as means of developing novel metal ion-based virucides. Comparatively high concentrations of Cu(II) ions (>10 mM) had little effect on the infectivity of human norovirus surrogates, so we used sodium ascorbate as a reducing agent to generate unstable Cu(I) ions from solutions of copper bromide. We found that significantly lower concentrations of monovalent copper ions (∼0.1 mM) compared to divalent copper ions cause capsid protein damage that prevents human norovirus capsids from binding to cell receptors in vitro and induce a greater than 4-log reduction in infectivity of Tulane virus, a human norovirus surrogate. Further, these Cu(I) solutions caused reduction of GII.4 norovirus from stool in suspension, producing about a 2-log reduction of virus as measured by a reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) data indicate substantial major capsid protein cleavage of both GI.7 and GII.4 norovirus capsids, and TEM images show the complete loss of capsid integrity of GI.7 norovirus. GII.4 virus-like particles (VLPs) were less susceptible to inactivation by copper ion treatments than GI.7 VLPs based upon receptor binding and SDS-PAGE analysis of viral capsids. The combined data demonstrate that stabilized Cu(I) ion solutions show promise as highly effective noroviral disinfectants in solution that can potentially be utilized at low concentrations for inactivation of human noroviruses.

Human noroviruses are the most common pathogens causing acute gastroenteritis and may lead to more severe illnesses among immunosuppressed people, including elderly and organ transplant recipients. To date, there are no safe and effective vaccines or antiviral agents for norovirus infections. In the present study, we aimed to demonstrate the antiviral activity of monogalactosyl diacylglyceride (MGDG) isolated from a microalga, Coccomyxa sp. KJ, against murine norovirus (MNV) and feline calicivirus (FCV), the surrogates for human norovirus. MGDG showed virucidal activities against these viruses in a dose- and time-dependent manner-MGDG at 100 μg/mL reduced the infectivity of MNV and FCV to approximately 10% after 60 min incubation. In the animal experiments of MNV infection, intraoral administration of MGDG (1 mg/day) exerted a therapeutic effect by suppressing viral shedding in the feces and produced high neutralizing antibody titers in sera and feces. When MGDG was orally administered to immunocompromised mice treated with 5-fluorouracil, the compound exhibited earlier stopping of viral shedding and higher neutralizing antibody titers of sera than those in the control mice administered with distilled water. Thus, MGDG may offer a new therapeutic and prophylactic alternative against norovirus infections.

The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) receptor is an attractive target for treating human norovirus (HNV). A computer-aided approach like e-pharmacophore, molecular docking, and single point energy calculations were performed on the compounds retrieved from the Development Therapeutics Program (DTP) AIDS Antiviral Screen Database to identify the antiviral agent that could target the HNV RdRp receptor. Induced-fit docking (IFD) results showed that compounds ZINC1617939, ZINC1642549, ZINC6425208, ZINC5887658 and ZINC32068149 bind with the residues in the active site-B of HNV RdRp receptor via hydrogen bonds, salt bridge, and electrostatic interactions. During the molecular dynamic simulations, compounds ZINC6425208, ZINC5887658 and ZINC32068149 displayed an unbalanced backbone conformation with HNV RdRp protein, while ZINC1617939 and ZINC1642549 maintained stability with the protein backbone when interacting with the residues. Hence, the two new concluding compounds discovered by the computational approach can be used as a chemotype to design promising antiviral agents aimed at HNV RdRp.

Norovirus infections belong to the most common causes of human gastroenteritis worldwide and epidemic outbreaks are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. In humans, noroviruses are known to bind to gastrointestinal epithelia via recognition of blood-group active mucin-type O-glycans. Considering the involvement of l-α-fucose residues in these glycans, their high valency on epithelial surfaces far surpasses the low affinity, though specific interactions of monovalent milk oligosaccharides. Based on these findings, we attempted to identify polyfucoses (fucans) with the capacity to block binding of the currently most prevalent norovirus strain GII.4 (Sydney, 2012, JX459908) to human and animal gastrointestinal mucins. We provide evidence that inhibitory effects on capsid binding are exerted in a competitive manner by α-fucosyl residues on Fucus vesiculosus fucoidan, but also on the galacto-fucan from Undaria pinnatifida and their oligo-fucose processing products. Insight into novel structural aspects of fucoidan and derived oligosaccharides from low-mass Undaria pinnatifida were revealed by GCMS and MALDI mass spectrometry. In targeting noroviral spread attenuation, this study provides first steps towards a prophylactic food additive that is produced from algal species.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) infection is a global health and economic burden. Currently, there are no licensed HuNoV vaccines or antiviral drugs available. The protease encoded by the HuNoV genome plays a critical role in virus replication by cleaving the polyprotein and is an excellent target for developing small-molecule inhibitors. The current strategy for developing HuNoV protease inhibitors is by targeting the enzyme's active site and designing inhibitors that bind to the substrate-binding pockets located near the active site. However, subtle differential conformational flexibility in response to the different substrates in the polyprotein and structural differences in the active site and substrate-binding pockets across different genogroups, hamper the development of effective broad-spectrum inhibitors. A comparative analysis of the available HuNoV protease structures may provide valuable insight for identifying novel strategies for the design and development of such inhibitors. The goal of this review is to provide such analysis together with an overview of the current status of the design and development of HuNoV protease inhibitors.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Pogostemon cablin, the dry overground parts of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth, has been widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction, such as nausea, diarrhea, headaches and fever. Pogostone (PO) is a major component of Pogostemon cablin which has a variety of pharmacological properties, including antiinflammatory, and immunosuppressive activities, and antioxidant. However, the effect of PO on norovirus gastroenteritis and the underlying molecular mechanism remain unclear., Aim of the Study: The purpose of our study is to investigate the effects of PO against MNV infection using RAW264.7 cells and to elucidate its active mechanisms., Materials and Methods: The cell viability was assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) staining. The activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling and NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome was evaluated by assessing the level of phospho-NF-κB p65, interleukin (IL)-6, TNF-α, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-18, IL-1β using Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), respectively. The number of infected cells were determined by immunofluorescence microscopic assay., Results: PO did not possess a cytotoxic effect toward RAW264.7 cells. The cytotoxic damage caused by MNV infection in RAW264.7 cells decreased significantly in the presence of PO. Cell viability assays showed that pyroptosis is the major mechanism of death in MNV-infected RAW264.7 cells. PO could decreased the expression levels of p-p65, IL-6, TNF-α, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18., Conclusions: These results demonstrate that PO decreases MNV-induced RAW264.7 macrophages death and MNV replication through repressing NF-κB/NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis. Therefore PO may be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for preventing and treating norovirus gastroenteritis., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis resulting annually in ~219,000 deaths and a societal cost of ~USD 60 billion, and no antivirals or vaccines are available. Here, we assess the anti-norovirus activity of new peptidomimetic aldehydes related to the protease inhibitor rupintrivir. The early hit compound 4 inhibited the replication of murine norovirus (MNV) and the HuNoV GI.1 replicon in vitro (EC 50 ~1 µM) and swiftly cleared the HuNoV GI.1 replicon from the cells. Compound 4 still inhibits the proteolytic activity. We selected a resistant GI.1 replicon, with a mutation (I109V) in a highly conserved region of the viral protease, conferring a low yield of resistance against compound 4 and rupintrivir. After testing new derivatives, compound 10d was the most potent (EC 50 nanomolar range). Molecular docking indicated that the aldehyde group of compounds 4 and 10d bind with Cys139 in the HuNoV 3CL protease by a covalent linkage. Finally, compound 10d inhibited the replication of HuNoV GII.4 in infected zebrafish larvae, and PK studies in mice showed an adequate profile.

Based on the previously reported 13-residue antibacterial peptide analog, brevinin-1EMa (FLGWLFKVASKVL, peptide B), we attempted to design a novel class of antiviral peptides. For this goal, we synthesized three peptides with different stapling positions (B-2S, B-8S, and B-5S). The most active antiviral peptide with the specific stapling position (B-5S) was further modified in combination with either cysteine (B-5S3C, B-5S7C, and B-5S10C) or hydrophilic amino acid substitution (Bsub and Bsub-5S). Overall, B, B-5S, and Bsub-5S peptides showed superior antiviral activities against enveloped viruses such as retrovirus, lentivirus, hepatitis C virus, and herpes simplex virus with EC 50 values of 1-5 μM. Murine norovirus, a non-enveloped virus, was not susceptible to the virucidal actions of these peptides, suggesting the virus membrane disruption as their main antiviral mechanisms of action. We believe that these three novel peptides could serve as promising candidates for further development of membrane-targeting antiviral drugs in the future., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

In this work, a bioactive persimmon extract was produced from discarded fruits. A central composite design was used to evaluate the effect of different extraction parameters and ripeness stages of persimmon fruits on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the resulting extracts. Significantly greater phenolic contents were obtained from immature persimmon (IP) fruits. The optimum IP extract with the conditions set by the experimental design was industrially up-scaled and its composition and functional properties were evaluated and compared with those obtained under lab-scale conditions. Both extracts contained significant protein (>20%) and phenolic contents (∼11-27 mg GA/g dry extract) and displayed significant antiviral activity against murine norovirus and hepatitis A virus. Moreover, the extract showed no toxicity and significantly reduced the fat content and the cellular ageing of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) without affecting the worm development. These effects were mediated by down-regulation of fat-7, suggesting an anti-lipogenic activity of this extract.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it essential to explore alternative antiviral materials. Alginate is a biodegradable, renewable, biocompatible, water-soluble and antiviral biopolymer with many potential biomedical applications. In this regard, this review shows 17 types of viruses that have been tested in contact with alginate and its related biomaterials. Most of these studies show that alginate-based materials possess little or no toxicity and are able to inhibit a wide variety of viruses affecting different organisms: in humans by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1, the hepatitis A, B, and C viruses, Sindbis virus, herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, poliovirus type 1, rabies virus, rubella virus, and the influenza virus; in mice by the murine norovirus; in bacteria by the T4 coliphage, and in plants by the tobacco mosaic virus and the potato virus X. Many of these are enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, like SARS-CoV-2, which render alginate-based materials highly promising in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human noroviruses, which belong to the enterovirus family, are one of the most common etiological agents of food-borne diseases. In recent years, intensive research has been carried out regarding the antiviral activity of plant metabolites that could be used for the preservation of fresh food, because they are safer for consumption when compared to synthetic chemicals. Plant preparations with proven antimicrobial activity differ in their chemical compositions, which significantly affects their biological activity. Our review aimed to present the results of research related to the characteristics, applicability, and mechanisms of the action of various plant-based preparations and metabolites against norovirus. New strategies to combat intestinal viruses are necessary, not only to ensure food safety and reduce infections in humans but also to lower the direct health costs associated with them.

Background: As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic accelerates, the supply of personal protective equipment remains under strain. To combat shortages, re-use of surgical masks and filtering facepiece respirators has been recommended. Prior decontamination is paramount to the re-use of these typically single-use only items and, without compromising their integrity, must guarantee inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and other contaminating pathogens., Aim: We provide information on the effect of time-dependent passive decontamination (infectivity loss over time during room temperature storage in a breathable bag) and evaluate inactivation of a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate and a non-enveloped model virus as well as mask and respirator integrity following active multiple-cycle vaporised hydrogen peroxide (VHP), ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), and dry heat (DH) decontamination., Methods: Masks and respirators, inoculated with infectious porcine respiratory coronavirus or murine norovirus, were submitted to passive decontamination or single or multiple active decontamination cycles; viruses were recovered from sample materials and viral titres were measured via TCID50 assay. In parallel, filtration efficiency tests and breathability tests were performed according to EN standard 14683 and NIOSH regulations., Results and Discussion: Infectious porcine respiratory coronavirus and murine norovirus remained detectable on masks and respirators up to five and seven days of passive decontamination. Single and multiple cycles of VHP-, UVGI-, and DH were shown to not adversely affect bacterial filtration efficiency of masks. Single- and multiple UVGI did not adversely affect respirator filtration efficiency, while VHP and DH induced a decrease in filtration efficiency after one or three decontamination cycles. Multiple cycles of VHP-, UVGI-, and DH slightly decreased airflow resistance of masks but did not adversely affect respirator breathability. VHP and UVGI efficiently inactivated both viruses after five, DH after three, decontamination cycles, permitting demonstration of a loss of infectivity by more than three orders of magnitude. This multi-disciplinal approach provides important information on how often a given PPE item may be safely reused., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Aims: The efficacy of a novel photochemical method for generating chlorine dioxide (photoClO 2 ) was evaluated against human noroviruses (HuNoV) surrogate, bacteriophage MS2, and Clostridium difficile endospores., Methods and Results: Chlorine dioxide was generated by mixing 1% sodium chlorite with 10 parts-per-million (ppm) Eosin Y and irradiating with a photo-activator-excitable light. PhotoClO 2 efficacy was assessed against bacteriophage MS2 and C. difficile endospores in suspension, on hard surfaces and greenhouse conditions under soiled and unsoiled conditions. The estimated effective photoClO 2 produced and consumed was 20·39 ± 0·16 ppm at a rate of 8·16 ppm per min in a 1% sodium chlorite solution. In suspension, MS2 phage was reduced by 3·35 and >5·10 log 10 PFU per ml in 120 and 90 min, with and without soil, respectively. At the same time, when dried on stainless steel surface, MS2 phage was reduced by >4·53 log 10 PFU per carrier in 30 min under both conditions. On the other hand, C. difficile endospores in suspension were reduced by 2·26 and 3·65 log 10 CFU per ml in 120 min with and without soiling, respectively. However, on stainless steel surface, maximal reductions of the C. difficile endospores were 0·8 and 1·5 log 10 CFU per carrier with and without soiling, respectively, and a maximal reduction of 2·97 log 10 CFU per carrier under greenhouse conditions at 24 h., Conclusions: Overall, photoClO 2 showed promise as a technology to control HuNoV contamination on environmental surfaces but requires further optimization and testing against C. difficile endospores., Significance and Impact of the Study: Results from this investigation will serve as a model for how to generate and quantify photoClO 2 and how to appropriately evaluate this new class of disinfectants against environmentally resilient pathogens: viruses and bacterial endospores., (© 2020 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Clam jeotgal, called "jogaejeotgal," is a Korean fermented seafood product with, generally, a high amount of added salt to inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1), a surrogate for human norovirus, in salt-fermented clam, jogaejeotgal. The sequential effect of ClO 2 and electron-beam (e-beam) irradiation on the inactivation of MNV-1 was also investigated. Treatments of up to 300 ppm ClO 2 and 1000 ppm NaOCl were used to determine the disinfectant concentrations at which more than 1 log (90%) MNV-1 inactivation occurred. The sequential treatment of ClO 2 (50-300 ppm) and e-beam (1-5.5 kGy) was performed after storage at 4 °C for 7 days. There was a 1.9-log reduction of the virus in seasoned clams irradiated at 5.5 kGy after ClO 2 treatment at 300 ppm. No significant change (p > 0.05) in physicochemical quality was observed after the combined treatment, suggesting the potential for the use of a combined treatment using ClO 2 (300 ppm) and e-beam (5.5 kGy) in the jeotgal manufacturing industry for the reduction of norovirus., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Human noroviruses (hNoVs) cause heavy disease burden worldwide and there is no clinically approved vaccination or antiviral hitherto. In this study, with the use of a zebrafish larva in vivo platform, we investigated the anti-hNoV potentials of fucoidan (from brown algae Fucus vesiculosus ) and 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL). As a result, although both fucoidan and 2'-FL were able to block hNoV GII.4 virus-like particle (VLPs) from binding to type A saliva as expected, only fucoidan, but not 2'-FL, was able to inhibit the replication of hNoV GII.P16-GII.4 in zebrafish larvae, indicating the possible needs of higher molecular weights for fucosylated carbohydrates to exert anti-hNoV effect.

Enteric viruses, such as human norovirus (NoV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV), are the major causes of foodborne illnesses worldwide. These viruses have low infectious dose, and may remain infectious for weeks in the environment and food. Limited information is available regarding viral survival and transmission in low-moisture foods (LMF). LMFs are generally considered as ready-to-eat products, which undergo no or minimal pathogen reduction steps. However, numerous foodborne viral outbreaks associated with LMFs have been reported in recent years. The objective of this study was to examine the survival of foodborne viruses in LMFs during 4-week storage at ambient temperature and to evaluate the efficacy of advanced oxidative process (AOP) treatment in the inactivation of these viruses. For this purpose, select LMFs such as pistachios, chocolate, and cereal were inoculated with HAV and the norovirus surrogates, murine norovirus (MNV) and feline calicivirus (FCV), then viral survival on these food matrices was measured over a four-week incubation at ambient temperature, by both plaque assay and droplet-digital RT-PCR (ddRT-PCR) using the modified ISO-15216 method as well as the magnetic bead assay for viral recovery. We observed an approximately 0.5 log reduction in viral genome copies, and 1 log reduction in viral infectivity for all three tested viruses following storage of select inoculated LMFs for 4 weeks. Therefore, the present study shows that the examined foodborne viruses can persist for a long time in LMFs. Next, we examined the inactivation efficacy of AOP treatment, which combines UV-C, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide vapor, and observed that while approximately 100% (4 log) inactivation can be achieved for FCV, and MNV in chocolate, the inactivation efficiency diminishes to approximately 90% (1 log) in pistachios and 70% (< 1 log) in cereal. AOP treatment could therefore be a good candidate for risk reduction of foodborne viruses from certain LMFs depending on the food matrix and surface of treatment.

Introduction: Norovirus gastroenteritis is one of the most frequent causes of personnel unavailability in military units, being associated with significant morbidity and degradation of their operational effectiveness. The disease is usually mild but can be severe and life-threatening in young and healthy soldiers, who are prone to dehydration due to intensive daily activity. Despite its impact, the full extent of the norovirus gastroenteritis burden in military forces remains unclear. This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact and ascertain clinical and epidemiological features of norovirus outbreaks that have occurred in the military forces., Methods: The systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and used three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and LILACs. Papers published up to 1 September 2019 were included without restrictions if they reported one or more outbreaks in the military forces on active duty, either on national territories or deployed overseas., Results: A total of 343 papers were retrieved from the literature search. After inclusion/exclusion criteria a total of 39 eligible papers were considered. From 1988 (first reported outbreak in the military) to 2018 more than 101 norovirus outbreaks have been reported in the military, accounting for at least 24 332 cases. Secondary transmission was emphasised as the main route of norovirus transmission in the military forces, with eating outside the military setting an important route for the primary cases., Conclusions: The present review highlights that norovirus gastroenteritis has been a burden to military troops both in combat and on peacekeeping operations. Norovirus disease has been shown to exact a substantial toll on mission readiness and operational effectiveness. It is noteworthy that the impact of norovirus outbreaks among military units is underestimated because the literature review retrieved information from the armed forces from only nine countries., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Recently, monoclonal-antibody-conjugated immunomagnetic separation (IMS) procedure combined with quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) has been used for quantifying non-cultivated human noroviruses (HuNoVs)., Methods: We examined the efficacy of 27 commercially available disinfectants and a prototype against GII.4 strain HuNoV through the IMS/qRT-PCR assay., Results: The average log reduction in viral titer in vitro varied among the disinfectants. The prototype was the most effective with an average log reduction of 6.86 log., Conclusions: The IMS/RT-qPCR assay is an effective method to evaluate the activities of disinfectants against GII.4 HuNoV in vitro. Further work is needed to enhance the virucidal activity of the prototype disinfectant against more resistant HuNoV strains., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Human noroviruses cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, but lack approved antivirals or vaccines to treat or prevent infections. The recent development of two cell culture systems in human transformed B cells (BJABs) and non-transformed human intestinal enteroid cultures overcomes a main limitation in identifying molecules with anti-norovirus activities. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in the milk of most mammals, with broad spectrum antimicrobial activities, including against the related murine norovirus in cell culture. In a Japanese clinical trial, ingestion of lactoferrin reduced the incidence of infectious gastroenteritis in the participants. Because human noroviruses were the most common cause of gastroenteritis in Japan during the clinical trial period, we sought to determine whether lactoferrin could inhibit infection with human norovirus. Our study, using a B cell culture model, demonstrates that lactoferrin reduces human norovirus infection. The mechanism of antiviral action is likely indirect and may involve the induction of innate interferon responses. Therefore, future studies are warranted to test the antiviral efficacy of lactoferrin against human norovirus infection in patients.

Introduction: Norovirus outbreaks frequently occur in communities and institutional settings acquiring a particular significance in armed forces where prompt reporting is critical. Here we describe the epidemiological, clinical and laboratorial investigation of a multicentre gastroenteritis outbreak that was detected simultaneously in three Portuguese army units with a common food supplier, Lisbon region, between 5 and 6 December 2017., Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to all soldiers stationed in the three affected army units, and stool specimens were collected from soldiers with acute gastrointestinal illness. Stool specimens were tested for common enteropathogenic bacteria by standard methods and screened for a panel of enteric viruses using a multiplex real-time PCR assay. Food samples were also collected for microbiological analysis. Positive stool specimens for norovirus were further genotyped., Results: The three simultaneous acute gastroenteritis outbreaks affected a 31 (3.5%) soldiers from a total of 874 stationed at the three units and lasted for 2 days. No secondary cases were reported. Stool specimens (N=11) were negative for all studied enteropathogenic agents but tested positive for norovirus. The recombinant norovirus GII.P16-GII.4 Sydney was identified in all positive samples with 100% identity., Conclusions: The results are suggestive of a common source of infection plausibly related to the food supplying chain. Although centralisation of food supplying in the army has economic advantages, it may contribute to the multifocal occurrence of outbreaks. A rapid intervention is key in the mitigation of outbreak consequences and in reducing secondary transmission., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Norovirus is a major cause of foodborne disease and nonbacterial gastroenteritis globally. This study evaluated the antiviral effects of Magnolia officinalis extract and its honokiol and magnolol constituents against human norovirus surrogates, murine norovirus (MNV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) in vitro , and in model food systems. Pretreatment or cotreatment of M . officinalis extract at 1 mg/mL reduced MNV and FCV titers by 0.6-1.8 log. Honokiol and magnolol, which are the major polyphenols in the extract, showed significant antiviral effects against MNV and FCV. The virus-infected cells that were treated with M . officinalis extract exhibited significantly increased glutathione levels ( p  < 0.05). The extract, honokiol, and magnolol revealed ferric ion-reducing and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activities in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MNV and FCV titers were reduced by >1.6 log or to undetectable levels in apple, orange, and plum juices and by 0.9 and 1.6 log in milk, respectively, when they were treated with the extract at 5 mg/mL. Therefore, the present study suggests that M . officinalis extract can be used as an antiviral food material to control norovirus foodborne diseases.

A lactic acid bacterial strain, Lactobacillus plantarum SN35N, which has been isolated from the pear, secretes negatively charged acidic exopolysaccharide (EPS) to outside cells. We have previously found that the SN35N-derived acidic EPS inhibits the catalytic activity of hyaluronidase (EC 3.2.1.35) promoting inflammation. The aim of this study is to find other health benefits of EPS. EPS has been found to exhibit an inhibitory effect against the influenza virus (Alphainfluenzavirus Influenza A virus) and feline calicivirus (Vesivirus Feline calicivirus), which is recognized as a model of norovirus. Although more studies on the structure-function relationship of EPSs are needed, SN35N-derived EPS is a promising lead for developing not only anti-inflammatory agents, but also antiviral substances.

Noroviruses are non-enveloped viruses with a positive-sense single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) genome belonging to the genus Norovirus , from the family Caliciviridae, which are accountable for acute gastroenteritis in humans. The Norovirus genus is subdivided into seven genogroups, i.e., (GI-GVII); among these, the genogroup II and genotype 4 (GII.4) strains caused global outbreaks of human norovirus (HuNov) disease. The viral genome comprises three open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes the nonstructural polyprotein that is cleaved into six nonstructural proteins, which include 3C-like cysteine protease (3CLpro) and a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. ORF2 and ORF3 encode the proteins VP1 and VP2. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) from noroviruses is one of the multipurpose enzymes of RNA viruses vital for replicating and transcribing the viral genome, making the virally encoded enzyme one of the critical targets for the development of novel anti-norovirus agents. In the quest for a new antiviral agent that could combat HuNov, high throughput virtual screening (HTVS), combined with e-pharmacophore screening, was applied to screen compounds from the PubChem database. CMX521 molecule was selected as a prototype for a similarity search in the PubChem online database. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to identify different compounds that may inhibit HuNov. The results predicted that compound CID-57930781 and CID-44396095 formed stable complexes with MNV-RdRp within 50 ns; hence, they may signify as promising human norovirus inhibitors.

Strawberries are often consumed fresh or only receive minimal processing, inducing a significant health risk to the consumer if contamination occurs anywhere from farm to fork. Outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with strawberries often involve a broad range of microbiological agents, from viruses (human norovirus) to bacteria (Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes). The addition of sanitizers to water washes is one of the most commonly studied strategies to remove or inactivate pathogens on berries as well as avoid cross contamination due to reuse of process wash water. The risk posed with the safety issues of by-products from chlorine disinfection in the fruit industry has led to a search for alternative sanitizers. We evaluated the applicability of different chemical sanitizers (peracetic acid (PA), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), citric acid (CA), lactic acid (LA) and acetic acid (AA)) for the inactivation of S. enterica, L. monocytogenes and murine norovirus (MNV-1) on strawberries. A control treatment with chlorine (NaClO) (100 ppm) was included. For each sanitizer, different doses (40, 80 and 120 ppm for PA and 1, 2.5 and 5% for H 2 O 2 , LA, AA and CA) and time (2 and 5 min) were studied in order to optimize the decontamination washing step. The best concentrations were 80 ppm for PA, 5% for H 2 O 2 and 2.5% for organic acids (LA, AA and CA) after 2 min treatment. Results indicate that the sanitizers selected may be a feasible alternative to chlorine (100 ppm) for removing selected pathogenic microorganisms (P > 0.05), with reductions about ≥2 log for bacterial strains and ≥ 1.7 log for MNV-1. As the washing water may also increase the microbial counts by cross-contamination, we observed that no pathogenic bacteria were found in wash water after 5% H 2 O 2 and 80 ppm PA after 2 min treatment. On the other hand, we also reported reductions about total aerobic mesophyll (TAM) (0.0-1.4 log CFU/g) and molds and yeasts (M&Y) (0.3-1.8 log CFU/g) with all alternative sanitizers tested. Strawberries treated did not shown significant differences about physio-chemical parameters compared to the untreated samples (initial). For this study, the optimal sanitizer selected was PA, due to the low concentration and cost needed and its microbiocidal effect in wash water and fruit. Notwithstanding the results obtained, the effect of PA in combination with other non-thermal technologies such as water-assisted ultraviolet (UV-C) light should be studied in future research to improve the disinfection of strawberries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Successful human norovirus (HuNoV) cultivation in stem cell-derived human intestinal enteroids (HIE) was recently reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-HuNoV efficacy of two alcohol-based commercial hand sanitizers and 60% ethanol by suspension assay using RNase-RT-qPCR, with subsequent validation of efficacy by HuNoV cultivation using the HIE model. In suspension, when evaluated by RNase-RT-qPCR, 60% ethanol resulted in less than one log 10 reduction in HuNoV genome equivalent copies (GEC) regardless of contact time (30 or 60s) or soil load. The two commercial products outperformed 60% ethanol regardless of contact time or soil load, providing 2·2-3·2 log 10 HuNoV GEC reductions by suspension assay. Product B could not be validated in the HIE model due to cytotoxicity. Following a 60s exposure, viral replication in the HIE model increased 1·9 ± 0·2 log 10 HuNoV GEC for the neutralization (positive) control and increased 0·9 ± 0·2 log 10 HuNoV GEC in challenged HIE after treatment with 60% ethanol. No HuNoV replication in HIE was observed after a 60 s exposure to Product A., (© 2020 The Authors. Letters in Applied Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Noroviruses are the main causative agents of acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide. However, no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment is available, imposing a heavy global health burden. The nucleoside analogue 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine (2'-FdC) has been reported to have broad antiviral activity. Here, we report that 2'-FdC significantly inhibits murine norovirus replication in macrophages. This effect was partially reversed by exogenous supplementation of cytidine triphosphate. The combination of 2'-FdC with mycophenolic acid, ribavirin or favipiravir (T705) exerts synergistic antiviral effects. These results indicate that 2'-FdC is a potential candidate for antiviral drug development against norovirus infection.