Purpose: Because RT-PCR based methods only detect the presence of norovirus RNA sequences, RT-PCR by itself cannot give much information about whether the amplified nucleotide sequence was originally derived from an infectious or an inactivated virion.
Methods: To initiate an infection, the norovirus virion must attach to its host cell via interactions with histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs). Porcine gastric mucin, which chemically mimics HBGA receptors, can, when linked to magnetic beads, be used to bind and extract virions.
Results: Results described here, using GI.1 Norovirus (Norwalk strain) show that after ultra-violet light, high pressure, and thermal treatments, the ability of this virus to bind to swine gastric mucin is substantially abrogated.
Significance: These results indicate that the loss of NoV binding to porcine gastric mucin can be used as a means to preferentially exclude non-infectious virus particles from subsequent RT-PCR detection.