A method to distinguish potentially infectious from inactivated human norovirus

David H. Kingsley

: J Antivir Antiretrovir

Abstract :

H uman norovirus strains cannot be propagated in the laboratory and current detection methods are based on RNA detection methods, such as RT-PCR. Unfortunately RNA-based methods cannot distinguish infectious virions from damaged virions unless the capsid has lost its integrity. In order to infect the host cell, a virus must first bind to its receptor. This fact has been exploited to develop a means of separating potentially infectious virus from inactive virus using virus receptor-like glycoproteins attached to magnetic beads. This extraction method when coupled with RT-PCR extraction should reduce the detection of inactive norovirus virions that are not a threat to public health. The utility of this method for testing of shellfish and other foods is currently being evaluated