Exosome-mediated human norovirus infection

PLoS One. 2020 Aug 3;15(8):e0237044. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237044. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis. Outbreaks normally occur via the fecal-oral route. HuNoV infection is thought to occur by viral particle transmission, but increasing evidence suggests a function for exosomes in HuNoV infection. HuNoV is contained within stool-derived exosomes, and exosome-associated HuNoV has been shown to replicate in human intestinal enteroids. In this study, we examine exosome-associated HuNoV infection of Vero cells and show that exosomes containing HuNoV may attach, infect, and be passaged in Vero cells. These findings support earlier findings and have implications for developing HuNoV disease intervention strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caliciviridae Infections / genetics
  • Caliciviridae Infections / metabolism*
  • Caliciviridae Infections / transmission*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Enterocolitis / virology
  • Exosomes / genetics
  • Exosomes / metabolism*
  • Feces / virology
  • Female
  • Gastroenteritis / virology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Norovirus / pathogenicity
  • Vero Cells
  • Virion

Grants and funding

R.A.T. received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1117272) and the Georgia Research Alliance to complete these studies. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.