Mendelian resistance to human norovirus infections

Semin Immunol. 2006 Dec;18(6):375-86. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2006.07.009. Epub 2006 Sep 14.

Abstract

Noroviruses have emerged as a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in humans of all ages. Despite high infectivity of the virus and lack of long-term immunity, volunteer and authentic studies has suggested the existence of inherited protective factors. Recent studies have shown that histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) and in particular secretor status controlled by the alpha1,2fucosyltransferase FUT2 gene determine susceptibility to norovirus infections, with nonsecretors (FUT2-/-), representing 20% of Europeans, being highly resistant to symptomatic infections with major strains of norovirus. Moreover, the capsid protein from distinct strains shows different HBGA specificities, suggesting a host-pathogen co-evolution driven by carbohydrate-protein interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caliciviridae Infections / genetics*
  • Caliciviridae Infections / immunology
  • Gastroenteritis / genetics*
  • Gastroenteritis / immunology
  • Gastroenteritis / virology*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Humans
  • Norovirus / chemistry
  • Norovirus / immunology*