Environment and gastroenteritis viruses: Roles of virus-binding bacteria

Abstract

Gastroenteritis virises, including human norovirus and rotavirus, are transmitted not only through humans but also via contaminated water, foods and environmental fomites such as door knob. It is thus important to disinfect these contaminated stuffs for controlling infectious diseases caused by gastroenteritis viruses. The author of this article has been investigating histo-blood group antigen (HBGA)-positive bacteria as a possible environmental vehicle of human norovirus and rotavirus. In this article, recent publications related to the effect of HBGA-positive bacteria on the life cycles of gastroenteritsi viruses are introduced.