Purpose of review: Gastroenteritis results in substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in young children in low-and-middle-income settings. Rotavirus and norovirus are the leading causes of viral gastroenteritis. Although introduction of rotavirus vaccines into childhood immunization programmes has reduced disease burden, vaccine effectiveness remains low in developing countries. Norovirus is replacing rotavirus as the most common cause of diarrhea hospitalization in settings where rotavirus vaccines are highly effective. Genetically determined host factors, such as expression of histo blood group antigens (HBGAs) are hypothesized to play key roles in susceptibility to infections and gastroenteritis caused by these virus, as well as influence vaccine take.
Recent findings: Epidemiology studies provide strong support for virus genotype-dependent effects of host HBGA expression, specifically secretor status on susceptibility to rotavirus and norovirus. Secretor-positive persons are significantly more susceptible to gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus P[8] genotype, and to infection with the GII.4 genotype of human norovirus. There is increasing data on the role of secretor status on rotavirus vaccine take but results are currently conflicting. For analyses involving young infants, maternal HBGA status is an important factor to be considered in future studies.
Summary: Genetically determined HBGA expression influences susceptibility to enteric viruses of public health importance.