Human susceptibility and resistance to Norwalk virus infection

L Lindesmith, C Moe, S Marionneau, N Ruvoen… - Nature medicine, 2003 - nature.com
L Lindesmith, C Moe, S Marionneau, N Ruvoen, XI Jiang, L Lindblad, P Stewart, J LePendu
Nature medicine, 2003nature.com
Infectious diseases have influenced population genetics and the evolution of the structure of
the human genome in part by selecting for host susceptibility alleles that modify
pathogenesis. Norovirus infection is associated with∼ 90% of epidemic non-bacterial acute
gastroenteritis worldwide. Here, we show that resistance to Norwalk virus infection is
multifactorial. Using a human challenge model, we showed that 29% of our study population
was homozygous recessive for the α (1, 2) fucosyltransferase gene (FUT2) in the ABH histo …
Abstract
Infectious diseases have influenced population genetics and the evolution of the structure of the human genome in part by selecting for host susceptibility alleles that modify pathogenesis. Norovirus infection is associated with ∼90% of epidemic non-bacterial acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Here, we show that resistance to Norwalk virus infection is multifactorial. Using a human challenge model, we showed that 29% of our study population was homozygous recessive for the α(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. The FUT2 susceptibility allele was fully penetrant against Norwalk virus infection as none of these individuals developed an infection after challenge, regardless of dose. Of the susceptible population that encoded a functional FUT2 gene, a portion was resistant to infection, suggesting that a memory immune response or some other unidentified factor also affords protection from Norwalk virus infection.
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