Genetic susceptibility to symptomatic norovirus infection in Nicaragua

Abstract

Host genetic resistance to Norovirus (NoV) has been observed in challenge and outbreak studies in populations from Europe, Asia, and USA. In this study, we have investigated if histo-blood group antigens can predict susceptibility to diarrhea caused by NoV in Nicaragua, Central America, and if this can be reflected in antibody-prevalence and titer to NoV among individuals with different histo-blood group antigen phenotypes. Investigation of 28 individuals infected with NoV and 131 population controls revealed 6% of non-secretors in the population and nil non-secretors among patients infected with NoV, suggesting that non-secretors may be protected against NoV disease in Nicaragua. Surprisingly, 25% of the population was Lewis negative (Le(a-b-)). NoV infections with genogroup I (GI) and GII occurred irrespective of Lewis genotype, but none of the Lewis a positive (Le(a + b-)) were infected. The globally dominating GII.4 virus infected individuals of all blood groups except AB (n = 5), while the GI viruses (n = 4) infected only blood type O individuals. Furthermore, O blood types were susceptible to infections with GI.4, GII.4, GII.7, GII.17, and GII.18-Nica viruses, suggesting that secretors with blood type O are susceptible (OR = 1.52) and non-secretors resistant. The overall antibody-prevalence to NoV GII.3 VLP was 62% with the highest prevalence among blood type B carriers (70%) followed by A (68%) and O (62%). All four investigated individuals carrying blood type AB were antibody-negative. Among secretors, 63% were antibody-positive compared to 33% among non-secretors (P = 0.151). This study extends previous knowledge about the histo-blood group antigens role in NoV disease in a population with different genetic background than North American and European.

Association between Norovirus and Rotavirus Infection and Histo-Blood Group Antigen Types in Vietnamese Children

“…The prevalence of the Le aϩ phenotype in Vietnamese children is similar to that reported for other countries from this region (48,49). The partial secretor (Le aϩbϩ ) phenotype observed in Asian populations is quite unique and might be associated with high levels of susceptibility to NoV. A study in Nicaragua showed an absence of this phenotype in both NoV-infected and control groups (50). In addition, that study found that greater proportions of secretors than nonsecretors developed antibodies to NoV and higher antibody titers were induced in secretors than in nonsecretors, indicating that nonsecretors may develop less-robust immune responses following vaccination for the virus (50).…”

“…The partial secretor (Le aϩbϩ ) phenotype observed in Asian populations is quite unique and might be associated with high levels of susceptibility to NoV. A study in Nicaragua showed an absence of this phenotype in both NoV-infected and control groups (50). In addition, that study found that greater proportions of secretors than nonsecretors developed antibodies to NoV and higher antibody titers were induced in secretors than in nonsecretors, indicating that nonsecretors may develop less-robust immune responses following vaccination for the virus (50). In a study in Burkina Faso, which demonstrated an absence of Le aϩbϩ antigens and a high prevalence (32%) of Le aϪbϪ antigens, a strong association between NoV infection and secretor status was identified, with the exception of two cases of GII.4 and GII.7 infections in nonsecretors (35).…”

Genetic Diversity and Histo-Blood Group Antigen Interactions of Rhesus Enteric Caliciviruses

“…Due to the homotypic distribution of HBGAs in the subset of 500 macaques tested, recovirus infection could not be linked to a particular HBGA type, although both type B and type O macaques were infected with recoviruses. Future studies of macaques possessing more-heterogeneous HBGA distribution are needed to determine a potential association between HBGA phenotypes and susceptibility to recovirus infection in a population-based study as described for NoVs (3,23,35).…”

Norovirus GII.17 Predominates in Selected Surface Water Sources in Kenya

“…Norovirus GII.17 is of clinical relevance as it has been implicated in nosocomial NoV infection (Sukhrie et al 2011) and chronic NoV infection in a kidney transplant patient (Schorn et al 2010). The genotype has also been widely reported in children with gastroenteritis in Central and South America (Bucardo et al 2009;Ferreira et al 2012;Gomes et al 2008), Korea (Park et al 2011) and Thailand (Kittigul et al 2010). …”