title: The state of norovirus vaccines.
abstract: Noroviruses represent the most important cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide; however, currently no licensed vaccine exists. Widespread vaccination that minimizes overall norovirus disease burden would benefit the entire population, but targeted vaccination of specific populations such as healthcare workers may further mitigate the risk of severe disease and death in vulnerable populations. While a few obstacles hinder the rapid development of efficacious vaccines, human trials for virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines show promise in both immune response and protection studies, with availability of vaccines being targeted over the next 5-10 years. Ongoing work including identification of important norovirus capsid antigenic sites, development of improved model systems, and continued studies in humans will allow improvement of future vaccines. In the meantime, a better understanding of norovirus disease course and transmission patterns can aid healthcare workers as they take steps to protect high-risk populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised individuals from chronic and severe disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Debbink
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Lisa C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lindesmith
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Ralph S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Baric
mesh_terms: D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D029322:Norovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
chemical_list: D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle; D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: norovirus; vaccine