Scientists have Successfully Cultured the Human Norovirus

CHICAGO - Aug. 30, 2016 - PRLog -- Dr. Mary Estes and her team at Baylor College of Medicine have successfully cultured human norovirus in intestinal cells. This effort was supported by NIH and USDA-NIFA (through NoroCORE funds).

Norovirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in the world and the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States.

This culture system is very important because it will allow us to answer long-standing questions that have remained elusive for decades.  For instance, this method will help scientists better understand how the virus infects cells, causes disease, and how the immune system responds to viral infection.

From a food and environmental virology perspective, cultivation of the virus is an important step towards eventually being able to, for instance, evaluate the efficacy of disinfectants, sanitizers, and food processes on human norovirus infectivity.

"This is very exciting and interesting news.  With an increased ability to research Norovirus, more knowledge and better understanding may lead to intervention and improved treatment," says Deirdre Schlunegger, chief executive officer of STOP Foodborne Illness, a national nonprofit, public health organization dedicated to preventing illness and death from foodborne pathogens by advocating for sound public policies, building public awareness and assisting those impacted by foodborne illness.

"In short, we are hopeful that this culture method will form the foundation for future scientific breakthroughs which will lead to considerable public health improvements in the years to come," according to the NorCore staff. "This will lead to fewer cases of disease, less hospitalization and death, and the associated economic benefits will make our lives easier and safer.

With this discovery, the hope is that there will be fewer cases of the disease, less hospitalization and death, and the associated economic benefits will make our lives easier and safe," says the NorCore staff.

STOP Foodborne Illness Is Here to Help You
STOP Foodborne Illness is a national nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing illness and death from foodborne pathogens by advocating for sound public policies, building public awareness and assisting those impacted by foodborne illness. For more food safety tips please visit www.stopfoodborneillness.org/awareness/. If you think you have been sickened from food, check out http://www.stopfoodborneillness.org/awareness/ and contact your local health professional.

For questions and personal assistance, please contact STOP Foodborne Illness' Deirdre Schlunegger at dschlunegger@STOPFoodborneIllness.org or 773-269-6555 x1.

About  Mary K Estes, Ph.D.


Source: Wikipedia
Mary K. Estes, Ph.D. is a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Her courses include microbiology, and virology; she is also the co-director of the Transitional Biology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program at Baylor College of Medicine.[1] There are two main viruses that her research is based on, rotaviruses and noroviruses.[2] The main goal of her research are to study how the viral proteins interact with the receptors of the intestinal cells; they are also looking into different ways to deliver virus-like particles to prevent these viruses from causing infections.[1] Estes has achieved many awards and recognition in her time as a virologist. She is also a member of multiple foundations and professional societies.