ARS | Publication request: Novel Platform Technologies for Analysis of Norovirus Contamination of Sea Food

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 7, 2010
Publication Date: July 11, 2010
Citation: Arntzenl,C.,Kingsley,D.,Herbst-Kralovetz,M.,Sarker,S.,Dienhalt,C.,Nickerson,C. 2010. Novel platform technologies for anaylsis of Norovirus contamination of Seafood [abstract].IFT Meeting.Chicago,IL. p.1.

Technical Abstract: The study of human norovirus (NoVs) replication in vitro would be a highly useful tool to virologists and immunologists. For this reason, we have searched for new approaches to determine viability of noroviruses in food samples (especially seafood). Our research team has multiple years of experience with 3-D cell cultures, and a strong interest in developing tools to analyze norovirus neutralization in vitro. In multiple experiments, we have followed published protocols for 3-D culture of intestinal-derived INT-407 cells and have used multiple strains of Norovirus (GI and GII) at different concentrations and levels of purity. Using highly purified virus produced by Mary Estes and colleagues, we saw no evidence for a productive infection of the 3-D cell cultures (in contrast to published observations). Although we are continuing with improvements to the 3-D cell culture system to advance their physiological relevance and find a means to support productive norovirus replication, we are also branching out to use newly discovered peptide ligands (20 amino acids) which we have discovered as tools to bind to norovirus Virus-Like Particles. We will discuss the use of 3-D cell cultures as highly specific tools to determine viability of noroviruses in food samples, and companion efforts to devise rapid diagnostic tools to determine viable vs. killed virus using ligand-based diagnostics.