Single base substitutions in the capsid region of the norovirus genome during viral shedding in cases of infection in areas where norovirus infection is endemic

J Clin Microbiol. 2008 Oct;46(10):3397-403. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01932-07. Epub 2008 Aug 6.

Abstract

Norovirus (NoV) infections are the major cause of food- and waterborne nonbacterial gastroenteritis in Japan. Some individuals showed long-term excretion of the virus into feces in 29 outbreaks of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis that occurred in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, in fiscal year 2006. In one of these cases, single base substitutions from A to G in the capsid region of the NoV genome were commonly detected in two individuals during virus shedding by direct sequencing of PCR products. The A-to-G substitution was accompanied by an N-to-S amino acid change. The population of clones that possessed A at the corresponding site was gradually replaced by those with G during the infectious course. Although other substitutions were observed in the complete open reading frame 2 sequence, they were not common in these two individuals. NoVs are capable of evolving in the gastroenteric tract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Caliciviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology*
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Endemic Diseases
  • Feces / virology
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology
  • Gastroenteritis / virology*
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Norovirus / classification
  • Norovirus / genetics*
  • Norovirus / isolation & purification
  • Phylogeny
  • Point Mutation*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology
  • Virus Shedding*

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • RNA, Viral