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Swab Sampling Method for the Detection of Human Norovirus on Surfaces
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What is the reservoir of emergent human norovirus strains?

Stephanie M Karst1, Ralph S Baric2

  • 1College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA skarst@ufl.edu.

Journal of Virology
|March 20, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Human norovirus pandemics are driven by GII.4 strains, necessitating vaccine reformulations. This study explores potential reservoirs for emergent norovirus strains, focusing on immunocompromised, elderly, and malnourished individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Virology and immunology
  • Infectious disease epidemiology

Background:

  • Multiple human norovirus pandemics since 1996 have been caused by genetically related GII.4 strains.
  • Antigenic variation in pandemic norovirus strains suggests immune-driven evolution, requiring vaccine updates.
  • The reservoir for emergent norovirus strains remains unidentified, hindering vaccine development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential reservoirs for emergent human norovirus strains.
  • To evaluate the hypothesis that specific human populations may act as norovirus reservoirs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing epidemiological and virological data on norovirus outbreaks and evolution.
  • Analysis of norovirus host specificity and diversity in natural infections.
  • Discussion of theoretical models for chronic norovirus infection reservoirs.

Main Results:

  • Pandemic norovirus strains are antigenically distinct, supporting the need for adaptable vaccines.
  • Animal reservoirs are unlikely due to norovirus species specificity and lack of zoonotic evidence.
  • Limited viral diversity in typical human infections suggests other reservoirs are responsible for emergent strains.

Conclusions:

  • Chronically infected immunocompromised individuals are a plausible reservoir for emergent norovirus strains.
  • Elderly and malnourished individuals may also serve as reservoirs, contributing to norovirus evolution and pandemics.
  • Identifying these reservoirs is crucial for developing effective and long-lasting norovirus vaccines.

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