Susceptibility to winter vomiting disease: a sweet matter

• Published in: Reviews in medical virology Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. 370 - 382
• Main Authors: Rydell, Gustaf E., Kindberg, Elin, Larson, Göran, Svensson, Lennart
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.11.2011; Wiley Periodicals Inc
• Subjects: Annan klinisk medicin; Blood Group Antigens - chemistry; Blood Group Antigens - metabolism; Caliciviridae Infections - epidemiology; Caliciviridae Infections - genetics; Caliciviridae Infections - virology; Carbohydrates; chromosome 19; Developing countries; Epidemics; fucose; Fucosyltransferases - genetics; Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase; Gastroenteritis; Gastroenteritis - epidemiology; Gastroenteritis - genetics; Gastroenteritis - virology; Gastrointestinal tract; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Infection; Medical Biotechnology (Focus on Cell Biology (incl. Stem Cell Biology), Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Biopharmacy); MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Medicinsk bioteknologi (Inriktn. mot cellbiologi (inkl. stamcellsbiologi), molekylärbiologi, mikrobiologi, biokemi eller biofarmaci); Microbiology in the Medical Area; Mikrobiologi inom det medicinska området; Mutation; Norovirus; Norovirus - pathogenicity; Nucleotides; Other Clinical Medicine; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Receptor mechanisms; Receptors, Virus - chemistry; Receptors, Virus - metabolism; Seasons; Sweet taste; Vomiting; Vomiting - epidemiology; Vomiting - etiology; Vomiting - virology
• ISSN: 1052-9276; 1099-1654; 1099-1654
• DOI: 10.1002/rmv.704

SUMMARY Norovirus, the cause of winter vomiting disease, has emerged in recent years to be a major cause of sporadic and epidemic gastroenteritis worldwide. The virus has been estimated to cause >200 000 deaths each year in developing countries. Although the virus is highly contagious, volunteer and field studies have shown that a subset of individuals appears resistant to infections. A single nucleotide mutation (G428A) in the fucosyltransferase gene (FUT2) on chromosome 19 provides strong protection from infection in 20% of the white population. Histo‐blood group ABO(H) antigens with terminal fucose are believed to function as receptors for human norovirus in the gastrointestinal tract, but also negatively charged potential receptors have been identified. Norovirus infection is a unique example where a single nucleotide mutation in a fucosyltransferase gene plays a crucial role in susceptibility to one of the most common viral diseases. This review discusses the role of host genetics and carbohydrate structures in susceptibility to winter vomiting disease. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.