Disease relevance of Norwalk Virus

• Forty-two percent of 74 outbreaks of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis investigated by the Centers for Disease Control from 1976 to 1980 were attributed to the Norwalk virus [1].
• These data indicate that the N-terminal protein of Norwalk virus interacts with the Golgi apparatus and may play a 2BL role in the induction of intracellular membrane rearrangements associated with positive-strand RNA virus replication in cells [2].
• The nonstructural protein encoded in the N-terminal region of the first open reading frame (ORF1) of the Norwalk virus genome is analogous in gene order to proteins 2A and 2B of the picornaviruses; the latter is known for its membrane-associated activities [2].
• The binding of Norwalk virus (NV) recombinant capsids was tested in a panel of saliva samples collected from 96 donors with different ABO, secretor, and Lewis phenotypes [3].
• Analysis of paired sera from 48 wastewater workers and controls who reported gastrointestinal illness did not reveal any excess of seroconversions to Norwalk agent or to rotavirus [4].

High impact information on Norwalk Virus

• Using a human challenge model, we showed that 29% of our study population was homozygous recessive for the alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase gene (FUT2) in the ABH histo-blood group family and did not express the H type-1 oligosaccharide ligand required for Norwalk virus binding [5].
• Three of seven paired sera tested for antibodies to the Norwalk agent had a four-fold or greater rise in titre [6].
• The therapeutic efficacy of bismuth subsalicylate was examined in a randomized double-blind fashion in 59 volunteers who were inoculated with Norwalk agent [7].
• To determine whether a gastric mucosal lesion also accompanies this illness, stool filtrate containing Norwalk agent was given orally to 15 volunteers after base line biopsies of gastric fundal and/or antral mucosa had been obtained [8].
• The proteins of the Norwalk virus were studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [9].

Chemical compound and disease context of Norwalk Virus

• Processing of Norwalk virus nonstructural proteins by a 3C-like cysteine proteinase [10].
• Further work is being carried out to define the relationship of these two serotypes to the previously described Norwalk agent (A. Z. Kapikian, R. G. Wyatt, R. Dolin, T. S. Thornhill, A. R. Kalica, and R. M. Chanock, J. Virol. 10:1075-1081, 1972), and four subsequent hospital outbreaks are being studied [11].
• Fifty-gram lettuce or hamburger samples were artificially inoculated with poliovirus type 1 (PV1), hepatitis A virus (HAV), or the Norwalk virus and processed by the sequential steps of homogenization, filtration, Freon extraction (hamburger), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation [12].

Gene context of Norwalk Virus

• Bile-salt-stimulated lipase and mucins from milk of 'secretor' mothers inhibit the binding of Norwalk virus capsids to their carbohydrate ligands [13].
• Although the strains belonging to Norwalk virus (KY89) in the genogroup-1 and belonging to P1B (OSAP 18) in the genogroup-2 were detected for a prolonged period from 1988 to 1992/ 1993, the homology in these strains was very close, and this study shows that a high homogeneity was conserved in these strains [14].
• Norwalk virus infection and disease is associated with ABO histo-blood group type [15].
• All 54 Se+ milk samples, but 0 of 6 Se- milk samples, blocked VA387 and Norwalk virus (Se+ binders) from binding to saliva samples [16].
• Detection of Norwalk virus in stool by polymerase chain reaction [17].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Norwalk Virus

• Analysis by radioimmunoassay of pediatric sera from three populations showed that antibody to Norwalk virus is acquired at a significantly earlier age in a less developed and tropical area (Philippines) than in two more developed and nontropical countries (United States and Taiwan) [18].
• Sera obtained from two groups of adult volunteers infected with Norwalk virus (NV) and two groups of patients involved in two natural outbreaks were tested for NV-reactive immunoglobulin M (IgM) by use of a monoclonal antibody, recombinant-antigen-based IgM capture enzyme immunoassay (EIA) [19].
• Of 20 stool specimens from human volunteers that were positive for Norwalk virus by RIA, a specific RT-PCR-OP result was obtained in 95% (19 of 20) of the samples by using the immunogenic protein primers and 75% (15 of 20) by using the polymerase primers [20].
• The Norwalk virus genome regions encoding the following two proteins were amplified by RT-PCR: the RNA polymerase (260-bp product) and a putative immunogenic protein (224-bp product) [20].

References