Abstract | BACKGROUND: Norovirus GII.4 genotype is a leading cause of nonbacterial gastroenteritis in infants. Effective vaccines against noroviruses are not yet available, enhancing the interest of the protection mechanisms elicited by breast milk that may contain norovirus-specific antibodies and histo- blood group antigens. The aims of our study were to analyze norovirus GII.4-specific antibodies in breast milk and serum and to assess their blocking activity on recombinant norovirus virus-like particles (VLPs) binding to saliva. METHODS: Mature milk and serum from 108 mothers were analyzed for specific IgA to norovirus GII.4-2006b and for their blocking activity on the binding of norovirus GII.4-2006b VLPs to fucosyltransferase FUT2-positive and negative saliva. Norovirus GII.4-2006b-specific IgG antibodies were also analyzed in serum samples. RESULTS: Higher specific IgA titers were detected in mature milk (75%) than in serum samples (62%), showing a correlation between both results (ρ = 0.427, P = 0.000). However, only 56.3% of the serum samples contained norovirus-specific IgG. Almost all mature milk samples (99.1%) inhibited the binding of norovirus VLPs to FUT2-negative saliva; however, only 25% did so to FUT2-positive saliva (P = 0.000). Ninety percent of serum samples inhibited the binding of norovirus VLPs to FUT2-negative saliva. CONCLUSIONS: Breast milk inhibits norovirus GII.4-2006b VLPs binding to receptors in saliva, and anti-norovirus IgA antibodies are only partly responsible for this activity. The FUT2 status of the receptor seems to be a strong predictor of this effect, but more studies to ascertain the participation of histo- blood group antigens in the protection against norovirus infections elicited by breast milk are required.
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Authors | Parisá Khodayar-Pardo, Cecilia Martínez-Costa, Noelia Carmona-Vicente, Javier Buesa |
Journal | The Pediatric infectious disease journal
(Pediatr Infect Dis J)
Vol. 33
Issue 6
Pg. 554-9
(Jun 2014)
ISSN: 1532-0987 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 24830517
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Viral
- Immunoglobulin A
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Antibodies, Viral
(analysis, blood, immunology)
- Caliciviridae Infections
(immunology, virology)
- Female
- Gastroenteritis
(immunology, virology)
- Humans
- Immunoassay
- Immunoglobulin A
(analysis, blood, immunology)
- Milk, Human
(chemistry, immunology, virology)
- Norovirus
(genetics, immunology, physiology)
- Saliva
(chemistry, immunology, virology)
- Virus Attachment
- Young Adult
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