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Review
. 2020 Jun;19(6):539-548.
doi: 10.1080/14760584.2020.1777860. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Recent advances in human norovirus research and implications for candidate vaccines

Jordan E Cates  1   2 , Jan Vinjé  1 , Umesh Parashar  1 , Aron J Hall  1
Affiliations
Review

Recent advances in human norovirus research and implications for candidate vaccines

Jordan E Cates et al. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: Noroviruses are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. An estimated 21 million illnesses in the United States and upwards of 684 million illnesses worldwide are attributed to norovirus infection. There are no licensed vaccines to prevent norovirus, but several candidates are in development.

Areas covered: We review recent advances in molecular epidemiology of noroviruses, immunology, and in-vitro cultivation of noroviruses using human intestinal enteroids. We also provide an update on the status of norovirus vaccine candidates.

Expert opinion: Molecular epidemiological studies confirm the tremendous genetic diversity of noroviruses, the continuous emergence of new recombinant strains, and the predominance of GII.4 viruses worldwide. Duration of immunity, extent of cross protection between different genotypes, and differences in strain distribution for young children compared with adults remain key knowledge gaps. Recent discoveries regarding which epitopes are targeted by neutralizing antibodies using the novel in vitro culture of human noroviruses in human intestinal enteroids are enhancing our understanding of mechanisms of protection and providing guidance for vaccine development. A future norovirus vaccine has the potential to substantially reduce the burden of illnesses due to this ubiquitous virus.

Keywords: Norovirus; acute gastroenteritis; immunology; vaccine development.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Vaccine candidates in development, by type and pre-clinical or clinical phase. Adapted with permission from [90].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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      * This systematic review and met-analysis provides global estimates of the proportion of acute gastroenteritis due to norovirus infection.

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