Norovirus and histo-blood group antigens

Abstract

Noroviruses (NoVs) are the major causative agents of acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide. Since there is no established in vitro cell culture system for NoV production, virus-like particles (VLPs) are used as surrogates in order to investigate the interaction of NoVs with histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs). Details of the recognition of HBGAs by NoV have been clarified with in vitro experiments, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments using VLPs, as well as crystallization studies using protruding (P) domains. These in vitro studies clarified that the binding properties of human NoV to HBGAs were variable and that the terminal residues and internal structures of HBGAs were key determinants of NoV-HBGA interactions.