Authors:
Melissa K. Jones, Makiko Watanabe, Shu Zhu, Christina L. Graves, Lisa R. Keyes, Katrina R. Grau, Mariam B. Gonzalez-Hernandez, Nicole M. Iovine, Christiane E. Wobus, Jan Vinjé, Scott A. Tibbetts, Shannon M. Wallet, & Stephanie M. Karst
Summary:
The cell tropism of human noroviruses and the development of an in vitro infection model remain elusive. Although susceptibility to individual human norovirus strains correlates with an individual’s histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) profile, the biological basis of this restriction is unknown. We demonstrate that human and mouse noroviruses infected B cells in vitro and likely in vivo. Human norovirus infection of B cells required the presence of HBGA-expressing enteric bacteria. Furthermore, mouse norovirus replication was reduced in vivo when the intestinal microbiota was depleted by means of oral antibiotic administration. Thus, we have identified B cells as a cellular target of noroviruses and enteric bacteria as a stimulatory factor for norovirus infection, leading to the development of an in vitro infection model for human noroviruses.
Source:
Science; Vol. 346, No. 6210, 755-759 (11/07/14)