Clinical Infectious Diseases (CID)
Volume 58 Issue 12 June 15, 2014
http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/current

The State of Norovirus Vaccines
Stanley A. Plotkin, Section Editor, Kari Debbink1, Lisa C. Lindesmith2, and Ralph S. Baric1,2
Author Affiliations
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology
2Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Abstract
Noroviruses represent the most important cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide; however, currently no licensed vaccine exists. Widespread vaccination that minimizes overall norovirus disease burden would benefit the entire population, but targeted vaccination of specific populations such as healthcare workers may further mitigate the risk of severe disease and death in vulnerable populations. While a few obstacles hinder the rapid development of efficacious vaccines, human trials for virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines show promise in both immune response and protection studies, with availability of vaccines being targeted over the next 5–10 years. Ongoing work including identification of important norovirus capsid antigenic sites, development of improved model systems, and continued studies in humans will allow improvement of future vaccines. In the meantime, a better understanding of norovirus disease course and transmission patterns can aid healthcare workers as they take steps to protect high-risk populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised individuals from chronic and severe disease.