How norovirus hides from the gut immune system
Viral immune evasion during intestinal norovirus infection
This project is learning how norovirus evades gut immune defenses to help people with intestinal virus infections get better prevention and treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258057 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team uses a mouse model of norovirus infection and lab studies of intestinal epithelial cells to see how infected cells and nearby 'bystander' cells trigger antiviral interferon responses. They focus on the RIG-I/MDA5 sensing pathway and the interferon-λ response that protects the gut lining. Preliminary work suggests the virus secretes a protein called NS1 that binds the cell surface receptor Syndecan-4 to blunt antiviral signaling across the tissue. The researchers will define how NS1-Syndecan-4 interaction suppresses RIG-I/MDA5-driven immunity and test the molecular steps involved.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had recent norovirus infections or who can provide stool or intestinal tissue samples for research would be the most relevant candidates for related human sample collection.
Not a fit: Patients without gastrointestinal viral infections or those with unrelated chronic non-enteric conditions are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific line of lab-based work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to block norovirus immune evasion or boost gut antiviral responses to prevent or lessen intestinal infections.
How similar studies have performed: Researchers have previously mapped RIG-I/MDA5 and interferon pathways, but using a secreted viral protein to suppress tissue-wide sensing via Syndecan-4 is a novel mechanism that has not yet been proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Brown University — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Sanghyun — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Sanghyun
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.