Search

Norovirus is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis (1). Over past decades, variants of the predominant genotype, genotype 4 (GII.4), have continuously emerged to escape immunity (2-5). Since 2012, the [...]

Background Rapidly evolving RNA viruses, such as human norovirus, generate extraordinary sequence diversity, posing a significant challenge to vaccine design. This diversity, coupled with short-lasting natural immunity, leads to reinfection throughout one's lifetime. How reexposure shapes humoral immunity to future norovirus strains remains incompletely understood. Methods We profiled the antibody responses following 2 community gastroenteritis outbreaks with GII.2 and GII.6 noroviruses in 1971. Using diverse virus-like particles (VLPs), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and carbohydrate-blocking assays (surrogate for neutralization), we examined the antibody response at acute and convalescent timepoints following GII.6 infection. Results Convalescent sera displayed strong homologous blocking, demonstrating a 5-fold increase in GII.6 carbohydrate blockade over acute samples, and broad blocking of diverse archival and modern GII.6 noroviruses. Convalescent sera displayed limited carbohydrate blocking of heterotypic VLPs, despite high ELISA binding titers. Select individuals developed broad cross-genotype blockade, but this response was established before the second outbreak. Finally, we applied a novel competitive carbohydrate-blocking assay to demonstrate the epitope specificity and discrete compartments of the neutralizing response. Conclusions Our data show that infection generates narrow, focused immunity directed toward the infecting genotype. We did detect broad cross-blocking in specific individuals, but these responses could be attributed to diverse, genotype-specific antibodies predating GII.6 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (1). The norovirus RNA genome is organized into 3 open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes for 6 nonstructural proteins, including the RNA-dependent [...]

Noroviruses are major pathogens associated with acute gastroenteritis among persons in all age groups. In developing countries, noroviruses are responsible for an estimated 200,000 deaths per year among children Noroviruses [...]

Human noroviruses are the most common viral agents of acute gastroenteritis. Recently, human intestinal enteroids were shown to be permissive for norovirus infection. We tested their suitability as a system to study norovirus neutralization. Hyperimmune sera raised against virus-like particles (VLPs) representing different genotypes showed highly specific neutralization activity against GII.4 and GII.6 noroviruses. Carbohydrate blocking assays and neutralization exhibited similar patterns in antibody responses. Notably, sera produced against chimeric VLPs that presented swapped structural shell and protruding (P) domains, from different genotypes showed that neutralization is primarily mediated by antibodies mapping to the P domain of the norovirus capsid protein. This study provides empirical information on the antigenic differences among genotypes as measured by neutralization, which could guide vaccine design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noroviruses are major pathogens associated with acute gastroenteritis in persons of all ages. It is estimated that each year in developing countries, noroviruses are responsible for up to 200,000 deaths [...]

Abstract Background Vesiviruses in the family Caliciviridae infect a broad range of animal hosts including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles. The vesivirus Cro1 strains were isolated from diseased snakes in the San Diego zoo in 1978 and reported as the first caliciviruses found in reptiles. The goal of this study was to characterize the Cro1 strain 780032I that was isolated in cell culture from a rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus) in the original outbreak. Results We re-amplified the original virus stock in Vero cells, and determined its full-length genome sequence. The Cro1 genome is 8296 nucleotides (nt) in length and has a typical vesivirus organization, with three open reading frames (ORF), ORF1 (5643 nt), ORF2 (2121 nt), and ORF3 (348 nt) encoding a nonstructural polyprotein, the major capsid protein precursor, and a minor structural protein, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the full-length genome sequence revealed that the Cro1 virus clustered most closely with the VESV species of the genus Vesivirus, but was genetically distinct (82-83% identities with closest strains). Conclusions This is the first description of a full-length genome sequence from a reptile calicivirus (Cro1). The availability of the Cro1 genome sequence should facilitate investigation of the molecular mechanisms involved in Cro1 virus evolution and host range.

Abstract In recent years it was reported that the accumulation of point mutations in VP4 and VP7 genes of rotavirus strains was the main cause of the failure of the G or P-typing. Failures in the correct genotyping of G1, G2, G8, G9 and G10 rotavirus strains were reported in the most commonly used reverse transcription (RT)-PCR strategies. Collecting VP7 gene sequences of G1 rotavirus strains from databases we found that 74 (61.2 %) out of 121 G1 strains from lineage I showed the four specific mismatches at the 5' end of the 9T1-1 primer, previously associated with the failure of G1-typing. Thus, a great percentage of the G1 strains from lineage I worldwide reported could not have been typed if the Das's RT-PCR strategy were used. This analysis shows that the failure on the detection of the G1 strains could be due to the diversification of rotavirus strains in phylogenetic lineages. Therefore, the use of different RT-PCR strategies with different primer binding locations on the VP7 gene or new typing methodologies -like microarrays procedures- could be a better option to avoid the failure of the G-typing of rotavirus strains detected during surveillance programs.

Background Prior influenza immunity influences the homologous neutralizing antibody responses elicited by inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV), but neutralizing antibody responses to heterologous strains have not been extensively characterized. Methods We analyzed neutralizing antibody titers in individuals aged 1–88 who received the 2009–2010 season IIV before infection by or vaccination against the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus. Neutralization titers to homologous and heterologous past, recent, and advanced H1 and H3 strains, as well as H2, H5, and H7 strains, were measured using influenza hemagglutinin pseudoviruses. We performed exploratory analyses based on age, prior-year IIV, and prevaccination titer, without controlling for Type I errors. Results IIV elicited neutralizing antibodies to past and advanced H1 and H3 strains, as well as to an H2 strain in individuals who were likely infected early in life. The neutralization of avian subtype viruses was rare, and there was no imprinting of neutralization responses to novel avian subtype viruses based on the influenza group. Compared to adults, children had higher seroresponse rates to homologous and heterologous strains, and their sera generated larger antigenic distances among strains. Seroresponse rates to homologous and heterologous strains were lower in subjects vaccinated with prior-year IIV, though postimmunization titers were generally high. Conclusions IIV elicited neutralizing antibodies to heterologous H1 and H3 strains in all ages groups, but titers and seroresponse rates were usually higher in children. Prior-year vaccination with the same strains tended to blunt IIV neutralization responses to all strains in young and old age groups, yet postimmunization titers were high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]