What is the reservoir of emergent human norovirus strains?

Since 1996, there have been at least six human norovirus pandemics. All of the pandemic strains are genetically related, segregating in the genogroup II, genotype 4 (GII.4) cluster within the Norovirus genus. Evidence indicates that these strains are closely related but antigenically distinct, suppo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of virology 2015-06, Vol.89 (11), p.5756-5759
Main Authors: Karst, Stephanie M, Baric, Ralph S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Caliciviridae Infections - epidemiology
Caliciviridae Infections - virology
Carrier State - epidemiology
Carrier State - virology
Disease Reservoirs
Gems
Genetic Variation
Humans
Immunocompromised Host
Norovirus
Norovirus - classification
Norovirus - genetics
Norovirus - isolation & purification
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Summary:Since 1996, there have been at least six human norovirus pandemics. All of the pandemic strains are genetically related, segregating in the genogroup II, genotype 4 (GII.4) cluster within the Norovirus genus. Evidence indicates that these strains are closely related but antigenically distinct, supporting immune-driven viral evolution. Thus, norovirus vaccines will likely require periodic reformulation to protect from newly emergent strains. A major obstacle is that the reservoir of emergent strains is unknown. Noroviruses display tight species specificity and there is no evidence supporting zoonotic transmission, so an animal reservoir is considered unlikely. Moreover, available data indicate minimal viral diversity in most natural human infections. In this Gem, we discuss the widely speculated idea that chronically infected immunocompromised individuals are norovirus reservoirs and provide a rationale for the theory that elderly and malnourished hosts may also represent norovirus reservoirs.
ISSN:0022-538X
1098-5514
DOI:10.1128/jvi.03063-14