Fucose Binding Cancels out Mechanical Differences between Distinct Human Noroviruses

The majority of nonbacterial gastroenteritis in humans and livestock is caused by noroviruses. Like most RNA viruses, frequent mutations result various norovirus variants. strain-dependent binding profiles noroviruses to fucose are supposed facilitate infection. It remains unclear, however, what the molecular mechanism behind functioning is. In this study, applying atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation technology, we studied norovirus-like particles (noroVLPs) three distinct human We found differences viral mechanical properties even between variants from same genogroup. noroVLPs were then subjected treatment. Surprisingly, after treatment, previously considerable among these diminished. attribute a dynamic switch P domain upon reduced across tested These findings shed light on mechanisms used capsids adapt environmental changes and, possibly, increase cell Hereby, new step towards connecting prevalence taken.