Norovirus: Facts and Reflections from Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Human Norovirus is currently the main viral cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGEs) in most countries worldwide. Nearly 50 years after the discovery of the "Norwalk virus" by Kapikian and colleagues, the scientific and medical community continue to generate new knowledge on the full biological and disease spectrum of Norovirus infection. Nevertheless, several areas remain incompletely understood due to the serious constraints to effectively replicate and propagate the virus. Here, we present a narrated historic perspective and summarize our current knowledge, including insights and reflections on current points of interest for a broad medical community, including clinical and molecular epidemiology, viral-host-microbiota interactions, antivirals, and vaccine prototypes. We also include a reflection on the present and future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Norovirus infection and disease.

Keywords: Norovirus; epidemiology; prevention; vaccine.

Figure 1

Electron microscopy images of Noroviruses. (A). Original image of small round structured viruses, visualized by Kapikian in stool samples from acute gastroenteritis cases, by immune electron microcopy [7]. (B). High resolution cryo-electron microscopy of a GII.4 Norovirus particle [9].