Mendelian resistance to human norovirus infections.
Noroviruses have emerged as a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in humans of all ages. Despite high infectivity of the virus and lack of long-term immunity, volunteer and authentic studies has suggested the existence of inherited protective factors. Recent studies have shown that histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) and in particular secretor status controlled by the alpha1,2fucosyltransferase FUT2 gene determine susceptibility to norovirus infections, with nonsecretors (FUT2-/-), representing 20% of Europeans, being highly resistant to symptomatic infections with major strains of norovirus. Moreover, the capsid protein from distinct strains shows different HBGA specificities, suggesting a host-pathogen co-evolution driven by carbohydrate-protein interactions.
Le Pendu
Jacques
J
Inserm U601, University of Nantes, Institute of Biology, 9 Quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes, Cedex 01, France. jlependu@nantes.inserm.fr
Ruvoën-Clouet
Nathalie
N
Kindberg
Elin
E
Svensson
Lennart
L
D000818:Animals; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D029322:Norovirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*