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Title: Cell Culture Assay for Human Noroviruses [response]

Abstract

We appreciate the comments provided by Leung et al., in response to our recently published article “In Vitro Cell Culture Infectivity Assay for Human Noroviruses” by Straub et al. (1). The specific aim of our project was to develop an in vitro cell culture infectivity assay for human noroviruses (hNoV) to enhance risk assessments when they are detected in water supplies. Reverse transcription (RT) qualitative or quantitative PCR are the primary assays for waterborne NoV monitoring. However, these assays cannot distinguish between infectious vs. non-infectious virions. When hNoV is detected in water supplies, information provided by our infectivity assay will significantly improve risk assessment models and protect human health, regardless of whether we are propagating NoV. Indeed, in vitro cell culture infectivity assays for the waterborne pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum that supplement approved fluorescent microscopy assays, do not result in amplification of the environmentally resistant hard-walled oocysts (2). However, identification of life cycle stages in cell culture provides evidence of infectious oocysts in a water supply. Nonetheless, Leung et al.’s assertion regarding the suitability of our method for the in vitro propagation of high titers of NoV is valid for the medical research community. In this case, well-characterized challenge pools ofmore » virus would be useful for developing and testing diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. As further validation of our published findings, we have now optimized RT quantitative PCR to assess the level of viral production in cell culture, where we are indeed finding significant increases in viral titer. The magnitude and time course of these increases is dependent on both virus strain and multiplicity of infection. We are currently preparing a manuscript that will discuss these findings in greater detail, and the implications this may have for creating viral challenge pools« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
910266
Report Number(s):
PNWD-SA-7838
TRN: US200723%%594
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 13(7):1117-1118
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 13; Journal Issue: 7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; AMPLIFICATION; CELL CULTURES; IN VITRO; INFECTIVITY; LIFE CYCLE; MICROSCOPY; MONITORING; MULTIPLICITY; PATHOGENS; PRODUCTION; RISK ASSESSMENT; STRAINS; TESTING; TRANSCRIPTION; VACCINES; VALIDATION; WATER; WATER SUPPLY

Citation Formats

Straub, Tim M, Honer Zu Bentrup, Kerstin, Orosz Coghlan, Patricia, Dohnalkova, Alice, Mayer, Brooke K, Bartholomew, Rachel A, Valdez, Catherine O, Bruckner-Lea, Cindy J, Gerba, Charles P, Abbaszadegan, Morteza A, and Nickerson, Cheryl A. Cell Culture Assay for Human Noroviruses [response]. United States: N. p., 2007. Web.
Straub, Tim M, Honer Zu Bentrup, Kerstin, Orosz Coghlan, Patricia, Dohnalkova, Alice, Mayer, Brooke K, Bartholomew, Rachel A, Valdez, Catherine O, Bruckner-Lea, Cindy J, Gerba, Charles P, Abbaszadegan, Morteza A, & Nickerson, Cheryl A. Cell Culture Assay for Human Noroviruses [response]. United States.
Straub, Tim M, Honer Zu Bentrup, Kerstin, Orosz Coghlan, Patricia, Dohnalkova, Alice, Mayer, Brooke K, Bartholomew, Rachel A, Valdez, Catherine O, Bruckner-Lea, Cindy J, Gerba, Charles P, Abbaszadegan, Morteza A, and Nickerson, Cheryl A. 2007. "Cell Culture Assay for Human Noroviruses [response]". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/910266.
@article{osti_910266,
title = {Cell Culture Assay for Human Noroviruses [response]},
author = {Straub, Tim M and Honer Zu Bentrup, Kerstin and Orosz Coghlan, Patricia and Dohnalkova, Alice and Mayer, Brooke K and Bartholomew, Rachel A and Valdez, Catherine O and Bruckner-Lea, Cindy J and Gerba, Charles P and Abbaszadegan, Morteza A and Nickerson, Cheryl A},
abstractNote = {We appreciate the comments provided by Leung et al., in response to our recently published article “In Vitro Cell Culture Infectivity Assay for Human Noroviruses” by Straub et al. (1). The specific aim of our project was to develop an in vitro cell culture infectivity assay for human noroviruses (hNoV) to enhance risk assessments when they are detected in water supplies. Reverse transcription (RT) qualitative or quantitative PCR are the primary assays for waterborne NoV monitoring. However, these assays cannot distinguish between infectious vs. non-infectious virions. When hNoV is detected in water supplies, information provided by our infectivity assay will significantly improve risk assessment models and protect human health, regardless of whether we are propagating NoV. Indeed, in vitro cell culture infectivity assays for the waterborne pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum that supplement approved fluorescent microscopy assays, do not result in amplification of the environmentally resistant hard-walled oocysts (2). However, identification of life cycle stages in cell culture provides evidence of infectious oocysts in a water supply. Nonetheless, Leung et al.’s assertion regarding the suitability of our method for the in vitro propagation of high titers of NoV is valid for the medical research community. In this case, well-characterized challenge pools of virus would be useful for developing and testing diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. As further validation of our published findings, we have now optimized RT quantitative PCR to assess the level of viral production in cell culture, where we are indeed finding significant increases in viral titer. The magnitude and time course of these increases is dependent on both virus strain and multiplicity of infection. We are currently preparing a manuscript that will discuss these findings in greater detail, and the implications this may have for creating viral challenge pools},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/910266}, journal = {Emerging Infectious Diseases, 13(7):1117-1118},
number = 7,
volume = 13,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007},
month = {Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007}
}