Murine norovirus: propagation, quantification, and genetic manipulation.

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Infectious Diseases
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Murine norovirus (MNV) is a significant pathogen in biomedical research settings.
• MNV belongs to the Caliciviridae family and is related to human noroviruses, which cause widespread gastroenteritis.
• MNV replicates in the intestine and spreads via the fecal-oral route, similar to human noroviruses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a comprehensive overview of techniques for studying Murine Norovirus (MNV) biology.
• To highlight MNV as a valuable model for norovirus research due to its susceptibility to cell culture and genetic manipulation.
• To facilitate research into norovirus pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.

Main Methods:

• Description of a panel of commonly employed techniques for MNV research.
• Utilizing cell culture systems for MNV replication studies.
• Employing reverse genetics for MNV manipulation and analysis.
• In vivo studies within the murine host to investigate MNV infection.

Main Results:

• Established cell culture and reverse genetics systems enable detailed MNV studies.
• MNV replicates effectively in murine macrophages and dendritic cells.
• The described techniques allow for comprehensive investigation of MNV biology in both in vitro and in vivo settings.

Conclusions:

• Murine norovirus (MNV) serves as a crucial model for understanding norovirus pathogenesis.
• The availability of cell culture and genetic tools makes MNV an accessible system for scientific inquiry.
• These techniques provide a foundation for advancing research on norovirus biology and developing countermeasures.