Research Publications (Food Safety)

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) cause sporadic and epidemic outbreaks of gastroenteritis in all age groups worldwide. We previously reported that stem cell-derived human intestinal enteroid (HIE) cultures support replication of multiple HuNoV strains and that some strains (e.g., GII.3) replicate only in the presence of bile. Heat- and trypsin-treatment of bile...

We report the nearly complete genome of a norovirus GII.4 Hong Kong[P31] variant (GII strain Hu/HK/2019/GII.4 Hong Kong[P31]/CUHK-NS-2200) that was detected in a patient with gastroenteritis in August 2019. The genome was sequenced by metagenomic next-generation sequencing and was found to have 92.8% nucleotide similarity to the closest GII.4 norovirus sequence in GenBank.

Author(s): Xi Bai, Matteo Campagnoli, Sophie Butot, Thierry Putallaz, Lise Michot, Sophie Zuber

Background Large norovirus (NoV) outbreaks are explosive in nature and vary widely in final size and duration, suggesting that superspreading combined with heterogeneous contact may explain these dynamics. Modeling tools that can capture heterogeneity in infectiousness and contact are important for NoV outbreak prevention and control, yet they remain limited.

by Cristina V. Cardemil, Sean T. O’Leary, Brenda L. Beaty, Katy Ivey, Megan C. Lindley, Allison Kempe, Lori A. Crane, Laura P. Hurley, Michaela Brtnikova, Aron J. Hall

Background

Author(s): E. Lewis, J.A. Hudson, N. Cook, J.D. Barnes, E. Haynes

Noroviruses are a major cause of viral epidemic gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. The protease (Pro) encoded in open reading frame 1 (ORF1) is an essential enzyme for proteolysis of the viral polyprotein. Although there are some reports regarding the evolutionary analysis of norovirus GII-encoding genes, there are few reports focused on the Pro region. We analyzed the molecular evolution of the Pro region of norovirus GII using bioinformatics approaches.

In July 2018, recombinant norovirus GII.Pe-GII.4 Sydney was detected in dogs who had diarrhea in a kennel and in children living on the same premises in Thailand. Whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 4 noroviruses from Thailand showed that the canine norovirus was closely related to human norovirus GII.Pe-GII.4 Sydney, suggesting human-to-canine transmission.

by Michèle Brocard, Valentina Iadevaia, Philipp Klein, Belinda Hall, Glenys Lewis, Jia Lu, James Burke, Margaret M. Willcocks, Roy Parker, Ian G. Goodfellow, Alessia Ruggieri, Nicolas Locker

Noroviruses are the leading cause of human gastroenteritis worldwide. Here, we sequenced the open reading frame 1 (ORF1)-ORF2 junction region of norovirus strains isolated from 20 human stool samples. Samples were collected between 2014 and 2017 in Pernambuco State, Brazil. Phylogenetic analyses identified four norovirus GII genotypes circulating in this area of the country.

Outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis are often connected to contaminated drinking water. The assessment of the water quality relies on cultivation of indicator bacteria, and little is known of the fate of viruses in groundwater, especially in arctic regions. In Iceland, the groundwater temperature is between 3°C and 6°C. The aim of this study was to determine virus inactivation at low temperature in a groundwater microcosm and in a borehole in a postglacial lava field.

Author(s): Danlei Liu, Zilei Zhang, Ningbo Liao, Songyan Zou, Haoxuan Tang, Peng Tian, Glenn M. Young, Qingping Wu, Dapeng Wang

Author(s): María Alejandra Moreno, Hylenne Bojorges, Irene Falcó, Gloria Sánchez, Gracia López-Carballo, Amparo López-Rubio, Iris Catiana Zampini, María Inés Isla, María José Fabra

Author(s): Le Zhang, Liang Xue, Junshan Gao, Weicheng Cai, Yueting Jiang, Yueting Zuo, Yingyin Liao, Zhiwei Qin, Haoming Wu, Tong Cheng, Xueting Luo, Qingping Wu, Kegang Wu, Jumei Zhang

Author(s): Nânci Santos-Ferreira, João Rodrigo Mesquita, Enrique Rivadulla, Ângela S. Inácio, Maria São José Nascimento, Jesus Romalde, Paulo Martins da Costa

Aim Infiltration experiments aimed to show the effectivity of coral sand to remove microorganisms in septic tank wastewater treatment system, in South Tarawa, Kiribati. Methods and Results Laboratory experiments evaluated effective microbial removal properties of a packed bed of coral beach sand conditioned with domestic effluent.

Background Norovirus is an important cause of epidemic acute gastroenteritis (AGE), yet the burden of endemic disease in adults has not been well documented. We estimated the prevalence and incidence of outpatient and community-acquired inpatient norovirus AGE at 4 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) (Atlanta, Georgia; Bronx, New York; Houston, Texas; and Los Angeles, California) and examined trends over 4 surveillance years.

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are among the main pathogens causing acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis. Histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) are widely accepted receptors for HuNoV specific binding. HBGA-like substances in produce are also considered as the critical ligands for capture of HuNoVs. However, the composition of viral ligands from food substrates remains unknown.

Vapor phase hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can be utilized to inactivate murine norovirus (MNV), a surrogate of human norovirus, on surface areas. However, vapor phase H2O2 inactivation of virus on fruits and vegetables has not been characterized. In this study, MNV was used to determine whether vaporized H2O2 inactivates virus on surfaces of various fruits and vegetables (apples, blueberries, cucumbers, and strawberries).

K. Tohma et al. We report multiple nontypeable genotype II noroviruses circulating in South America; nucleotides differed by >25% from those of other genotypes. These viruses have been circulating in the Americas for ≈20 years and show recombination with other genotypes. Clues to norovirus natural history can guide development of treatment and prevention plans.

S. Guix et al. During a waterborne outbreak of norovirus in Spain, we estimated 50% illness doses for a group of exposed (secretor) persons to be 556 (95% CI 319–957) genome copies/day for norovirus GI and 2,934 (95% CI 1,683–5,044) genome copies/day for norovirus GII. Use of a propidium monoazide viability assay reduced these values.

One of the major foods causing norovirus gastroenteritis is bivalve shellfish, such as oysters. Depuration and relaying methods have been used to control norovirus. However, these methods may be inadequate to control norovirus gastroenteritis.

Author(s): Patrick M. Redli, Adrian Wanzenried, Jon B. Huder, Christoph Berger, Livia Berlinger, Riccarda Capaul, Jürg Böni, Andrea Zbinden

Author(s): Sofia Persson, Louise Nybogård, Magnus Simonsson, Ronnie Eriksson

Diverse noroviruses infect humans and animals via the recognition of host-specific glycan ligands. Genogroup II (GII) noroviruses consist of human noroviruses (huNoVs) that generally bind histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) as host factors and three porcine norovirus (porNoV) genotypes (GII.11/18/19) that form a genetic lineage lacking HBGA-binding ability. Thus, these GII porNoVs provide an excellent model to study norovirus evolution with host ligand specificity changes.