Bacterial histo-blood group antigens contributing to genotype-dependent removal of human noroviruses with a microfiltration membrane

Abstract

We demonstrated the genotype-dependent removal of human norovirus particles with a microfiltration (MF) membrane in the presence of bacteria bearing histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs). Three genotypes (GII.3, GII.4, and GII.6) of norovirus-like particles (NoVLPs) were mixed with three bacterial strains (Enterobacter sp. SENG-6, Escherichia coli O86:K61:B7, and Staphylococcus epidermidis), respectively, and the mixture was filtered with an MF membrane having a nominal pore size of 0.45 μm. All NoVLP genotypes were rejected by the MF membrane in the presence of Enterobacter sp. SENG-6, which excreted HBGAs as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This MF membrane removal of NoVLPs was not significant when EPS was removed from cells of Enterobacter sp. SENG-6. GII.6 NoVLP was not rejected with the MF membrane in the presence of E. coli O86:K61:B7, but the removal of EPS of E. coli O86:K61:B7 increased the removal efficiency due to the interaction of NoVLPs with the exposed B-antigen in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of E. coli O86:K61:B7. No MF membrane removal of all three genotypes was observed when S. epidermidis, an HBGA-negative strain, was mixed with NoVLPs. These results demonstrate that the location of HBGAs on bacterial cells is an important factor in determining the genotype-dependent removal efficiency of norovirus particles with the MF membrane. The presence of HBGAs in mixed liquor suspended solids from a membrane bioreactor (MBR) pilot plant was confirmed by immune-transmission electron microscopy, which implies that bacterial HBGAs can contribute to the genotype-dependent removal of human noroviruses with MBR using MF membrane.

Characterization of human norovirus binding to gut-associated bacterial ligands

“…The results reported here are consistent with early studies documenting that HBGA-like molecules occur commonly in bacterial species [8] and are consistent with more recent studies [9][10][11] suggesting HBGA-like activity differs by bacterial strain. The observed HBGA activity was unique to each bacterium based (1) the number of anti-HBGA reactive bands per bacterial species; and (2) the molecular weight (ranging from 15-to 140-kDa) of each reactive band ( Table 1) To determine which bands identified in the previous two assays may be relevant for norovirus binding (Table 1; Figure 1a-e), virus overlays were completed using three GI VLPs (corresponding to GI.1, GI.6, and GI.7 strains) and three GII VLPs (corresponding to GII.1, GII.4 Sydney and GII.17 strains).…”

Interferon-Lambda: A Potent Regulator of Intestinal Viral Infections

“…Depletion of the commensal microbiota also impairs RV infection and results in enhancement of both mucosal and systemic antibody responses against the virus (86). Human NoV binds directly to bacterial products that mimic the histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) known to be attachment factors for NoV (87)(88)(89), and indeed culture of human NoV in B cells depends on the presence of these HBGA-expressing bacteria (57,90). Hence, there is a common theme for enteric viruses in interacting with and depending on intestinal bacteria for infectivity, though the specific mechanisms may be virus dependent (91,92).…”

Fecal Source Tracking in A Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation System Using Multiple Waterborne Gastroenteritis Viruses

“…We confirmed the presence of human noroviruses (GI and GII) and rotaviruses in the influent wastewater, fine screen effluent, A 2 O treatment effluent, and the lake water receiving the wastewater effluents. The lower virus detection rate observed after the A 2 O treatment process compared to raw sewage may be owing to the attachment to wastewater solids and the presence of antiviral components in the activated sludge [24][25][26][27]. Gastroenteritis viruses were not detectable in the samples of MBR effluent after free chlorine disinfection.…”