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Updated: Dec 19, 2025
Quantifying Human Norovirus Virus-like Particles Binding to Commensal Bacteria Using Flow Cytometry
Published on: April 29, 2020
Recent advances in human norovirus research and implications for candidate vaccines
Jordan E Cates1,2, Jan Vinjé1, Umesh Parashar1
1Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, GA, USA.
Introduction:
Noroviruses are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. An estimated 21 million illnesses in the United States and upwards of 684 million illnesses worldwide are attributed to norovirus infection. There are no licensed vaccines to prevent norovirus, but several candidates are in development.
Areas Covered:
We review recent advances in molecular epidemiology of noroviruses, immunology, and in-vitro cultivation of noroviruses using human intestinal enteroids. We also provide an update on the status of norovirus vaccine candidates.
Expert Opinion:
Molecular epidemiological studies confirm the tremendous genetic diversity of noroviruses, the continuous emergence of new recombinant strains, and the predominance of GII.4 viruses worldwide. Duration of immunity, extent of cross protection between different genotypes, and differences in strain distribution for young children compared with adults remain key knowledge gaps. Recent discoveries regarding which epitopes are targeted by neutralizing antibodies using the novel in vitro culture of human noroviruses in human intestinal enteroids are enhancing our understanding of mechanisms of protection and providing guidance for vaccine development. A future norovirus vaccine has the potential to substantially reduce the burden of illnesses due to this ubiquitous virus.
