Norovirus interspecies transmission barriers and susceptibility factors

• Applicant: Dr. Nele Villabruna
• Subject Area: Virology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 542416050

Noroviruses are one of the major causes of gastroenteritis worldwide causing an estimated 60 billion US$ in societal costs globally. Noroviruses infecting a broad range of humans and animals exist. It has been speculated that animals play a role in human norovirus epidemiology, as noroviruses were found in the feces of several domestic and wild animal species. In addition, my previous work revealed that human noroviruses can attach to intestinal tissues of these same animal species. The aim of this project is to investigate whether virus attachment to a host cell leads to subsequent infection and can therefore be used as an indication for host susceptibility. In this regard, an ex vivo system of precision cut gut slices will be set up to investigate the potential susceptibility of different animal species to norovirus infection. Using the same precision cuts, I will elucidate the role of known human host factors, such as the epithelial cell expressed histo-blood group antigens. Many animals also express these antigens and I will investigate whether they impact susceptibilityin different animal species. In addition, bile has also been shown to beimportant in vitro for infection with some noroviruses possibly by affecting cellular protein expression. Hence, I will test whether the enhancing effect of bile is species-specific and how bile from humans and animals affects the protein expression on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells. This project will increase our understanding of the potential of norovirus interspecies transmission and elucidate the role of known human host factors and whether these contribute to host susceptibility in animals.

• DFG Programme: WBP Position