Funding outcome

Noroviruses are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis globally, which is defined as a diarrheal disease of rapid onset, with or without nausea, vomiting, fever, or abdominal pain. Noroviruses are well known for the memorable and severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhea they cause. Luckily for the majority of adults, the volcanic symptoms of norovirus cease in two days; but for young children, noroviruses can lead to more serious complications of dehydration. Children not only represent that highest incidence of disease but likely drive community transmission. For children less than 18 years old, norovirus contributes to ~ 2400 hospitalizations, 13200 emergency room visits, 92500 outpatient visits and more than 20 million in health care costs in Canada. In the developing world norovirus leads to ?200,000 deaths of children <5 years old. There are no vaccines or anti-norovirus therapies available, and diagnosis takes several days. Beyond the economic benefits, norovirus vaccines would have enormous impact on norovirus-related mortality found in low-income countries; the dream is therefore to administer norovirus vaccines broadly through national immunization programs. Rapid diagnosis kits would prevent spread of the virus in daycares and reduce burden of illness for children. For these reasons, the Shmulevitz lab is developing vaccines and point-of-care diagnostics against norovirus. We created several norovirus vaccine candidates, and this project aims to experimentally determine which of the candidates provokes the best anti-norovirus immune response that could prevent norovirus infection. We also discovered a strong antigen of norovirus that we are testing as a rapid diagnostic marker. Starting with Norovirus, and in future progressing to other gut viruses, we hope to improve the fate of children and pregnant women exposed to enteric viruses.