Human Norovirus Detection and Production, Quantification, and Storage of Virus-Like Particles

Human noroviruses constitute a significant worldwide disease burden. Each year, noroviruses cause over 267 million infections, deaths in over 200,000 children under the age of five, and over 50% of U.S. food-borne illness. Due to the absence of a tissue culture model or small animal model to study human norovirus, virus-like particles (VLPs) and ELISA-based biological assays have been used to answer questions about norovirus evolution and immunity as well to provide a potential vaccine platform. This chapter outlines the protocols for norovirus detection in stool, as well as norovirus VLP design, production, purification, and storage using a Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE)–based virus replicon particle (VRP) expression system. Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 31:15K.1.1-15K.1.45. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.