Emergence of Novel Norovirus GII.4 Variant.

We detected a novel GII.4 variant with an amino acid insertion at the start of epitope A in viral protein 1 of noroviruses from the United States, Gabon, South Africa, and the United Kingdom collected during 2017-2022. Early identification of GII.4 variants is crucial for assessing pandemic potential and informing vaccine development.

A Bivalent Human Norovirus Vaccine Induces Homotypic and Heterotypic Neutralizing Antibodies.

A GII.2 outbreak in an efficacy study of a bivalent virus-like particle (VLP) norovirus vaccine, TAK-214, in healthy US adults provided an opportunity to examine GII.4 homotypic vs. GII.2 heterotypic responses to vaccination and infection. Three serological assays (VLP-binding, histoblood group antigen-blocking, and neutralizing) were performed for each genotype. Results were highly correlated within a genotype but not between genotypes. Although the vaccine provided protection from GII.2-associated disease, little GII.2-specific neutralization occurred after vaccination. Choice of antibody assay can affect assessments of human norovirus vaccine immunogenicity.

Infant antibody and B-cell responses following confirmed pediatric GII.17 norovirus infections functionally distinguish GII.17 genetic clusters.

Genogroup II (GII) noroviruses are a major cause of diarrheal disease burden in children in both high- and low-income countries. GII.17 noroviruses are composed of distinct genetic clusters (I, II, IIIa, and IIIb) and have shown potential for replacing historically more prevalent GII.4 strains, but the serological basis for GII.17 antigenic diversity has not been studied in children. Utilizing samples from a birth cohort, we investigated antibody and B-cell responses to GII.17 cluster variants in confirmed GII.17 infections in young children as well as demonstrated that the distinct genetic clusters co-circulate. Polyclonal serum antibodies bound multiple clusters but showed cluster-specific blockade activity in a surrogate virus neutralization assay. Antibodies secreted by immortalized memory B cells (MBCs) from an infant GII.17 case were highly specific to GII.17 and exhibited blockade activity against this genotype. We isolated an MBC-derived GII.17-specific Immunoglobulin A (IgA) monoclonal antibody called NVA.1 that potently and selectively blocked GII.17 cluster IIIb and recognized an epitope targeted in serum from cluster IIIb-infected children. These data indicate that multiple antigenically distinct GII.17 variants co-circulate in young children, suggesting retention of cluster diversity alongside potential for immune escape given the existence of antibody-defined cluster-specific epitopes elicited during infection.

Progress in vaccine development for infectious diseases-a Keystone Symposia report.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many things, among the most important of which is that vaccines are one of the cornerstones of public health that help make modern longevity possible. While several different vaccines have been successful at stemming the morbidity and mortality associated with various infectious diseases, many pathogens/diseases remain recalcitrant to the development of effective vaccination. Recent advances in vaccine technology, immunology, structural biology, and other fields may yet yield insight that will address these diseases; they may also help improve societies' preparedness for future pandemics. On June 1-4, 2022, experts in vaccinology from academia, industry, and government convened for the Keystone symposium "Progress in Vaccine Development for Infectious Diseases" to discuss state-of-the-art technologies, recent advancements in understanding vaccine-mediated immunity, and new aspects of antigen design to aid vaccine effectiveness.

Emergent variant modeling of the serological repertoire to norovirus in young children.

Human norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis. Young children and the elderly bear the greatest burden of disease, representing more than 200,000 deaths annually. Infection prevalence peaks at younger than 2 years and is driven by novel GII.4 variants that emerge and spread globally. Using a surrogate neutralization assay, we characterize the evolution of the serological neutralizing antibody (nAb) landscape in young children as they transition between sequential GII.4 pandemic variants. Following upsurge of the replacement variant, antigenic cartography illustrates remodeling of the nAb landscape to the new variant accompanied by improved nAb titer. However, nAb relative avidity remains focused on the preceding variant. These data support immune imprinting as a mechanism of immune evasion and GII.4 virus persistence across a population. Understanding the complexities of immunity to rapidly evolving and co-circulating viral variants, like those of norovirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), and dengue viruses, will fundamentally inform vaccine design for emerging pathogens.

Infant rhesus macaques immunized against SARS-CoV-2 are protected against heterologous virus challenge 1 year later.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration only gave emergency use authorization of the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for infants 6 months and older in June 2022. Yet questions regarding the durability of vaccine efficacy, especially against emerging variants, in this age group remain. We demonstrated previously that a two-dose regimen of stabilized prefusion Washington SARS-CoV-2 S-2P spike (S) protein encoded by mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (mRNA-LNP) or purified S-2P mixed with 3M-052, a synthetic Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonist, in a squalene emulsion (Protein+3M-052-SE) was safe and immunogenic in infant rhesus macaques. Here, we demonstrate that broadly neutralizing and spike-binding antibodies against variants of concern (VOCs), as well as T cell responses, persisted for 12 months. At 1 year, corresponding to human toddler age, we challenged vaccinated rhesus macaques and age-matched nonvaccinated controls intranasally and intratracheally with a high dose of heterologous SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta). Seven of eight control rhesus macaques exhibited severe interstitial pneumonia and high virus replication in the upper and lower respiratory tract. In contrast, vaccinated rhesus macaques had faster viral clearance with mild to no pneumonia. Neutralizing and binding antibody responses to the B.1.617.2 variant at the day of challenge correlated with lung pathology and reduced virus replication. Overall, the Protein+3M-052-SE vaccine provided superior protection to the mRNA-LNP vaccine, emphasizing opportunities for optimization of current vaccine platforms. The observed efficacy of both vaccines 1 year after vaccination supports the implementation of an early-life SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

Immune Imprinting Drives Human Norovirus Potential for Global Spread.

Understanding the complex interactions between virus and host that drive new strain evolution is key to predicting the emergence potential of variants and informing vaccine development. Under our hypothesis, future dominant human norovirus GII.4 variants with critical antigenic properties that allow them to spread are currently circulating undetected, having diverged years earlier. Through large-scale sequencing of GII.4 surveillance samples, we identified two variants with extensive divergence within domains that mediate neutralizing antibody binding. Subsequent serological characterization of these strains using temporally resolved adult and child sera suggests that neither candidate could spread globally in adults with multiple GII.4 exposures, yet young children with minimal GII.4 exposure appear susceptible. Antigenic cartography of surveillance and outbreak sera indicates that continued population exposure to GII.4 Sydney 2012 and antigenically related variants over a 6-year period resulted in a broadening of immunity to heterogeneous GII.4 variants, including those identified here. We show that the strongest antibody responses in adults exposed to GII.4 Sydney 2012 are directed to previously circulating GII.4 viruses. Our data suggest that the broadening of antibody responses compromises establishment of strong GII.4 Sydney 2012 immunity, thereby allowing the continued persistence of GII.4 Sydney 2012 and modulating the cycle of norovirus GII.4 variant replacement. Our results indicate a cycle of norovirus GII.4 variant replacement dependent upon population immunity. Young children are susceptible to divergent variants; therefore, emergence of these strains worldwide is driven proximally by changes in adult serological immunity and distally by viral evolution that confers fitness in the context of immunity. IMPORTANCE In our model, preepidemic human norovirus variants harbor genetic diversification that translates into novel antigenic features without compromising viral fitness. Through surveillance, we identified two viruses fitting this profile, forming long branches on a phylogenetic tree. Neither evades current adult immunity, yet young children are likely susceptible. By comparing serological responses, we demonstrate that population immunity varies by age/exposure, impacting predicted susceptibility to variants. Repeat exposure to antigenically similar variants broadens antibody responses, providing immunological coverage of diverse variants but compromising response to the infecting variant, allowing continued circulation. These data indicate norovirus GII.4 variant replacement is driven distally by virus evolution and proximally by immunity in adults.

Norovirus Infection in Young Nicaraguan Children Induces Durable and Genotype-Specific Antibody Immunity.

There are significant challenges to the development of a pediatric norovirus vaccine, mainly due to the antigenic diversity among strains infecting young children. Characterizing human norovirus serotypes and understanding norovirus immunity in naïve children would provide key information for designing rational vaccine platforms. In this study, 26 Nicaraguan children experiencing their first norovirus acute gastroenteritis (AGE) episode during the first 18 months of life were investigated. We used a surrogate neutralization assay that measured antibodies blocking the binding of 13 different norovirus virus-like particles (VLPs) to histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) in pre- and post-infection sera. To assess for asymptomatic norovirus infections, stools from asymptomatic children were collected monthly, screened for norovirus by RT-qPCR and genotyped by sequencing. Seroconversion of an HBGA-blocking antibody matched the infecting genotype in 25 (96%) of the 26 children. A subset of 13 (50%) and 4 (15%) of the 26 children experienced monotypic GII and GI seroconversion, respectively, strongly suggesting a type-specific response in naïve children, and 9 (35%) showed multitypic seroconversion. The most frequent pairing in multitypic seroconversion (8/12) were GII.4 Sydney and GII.12 noroviruses, both co-circulating at the time. Blocking antibody titers to these two genotypes did not correlate with each other, suggesting multiple exposure rather than cross-reactivity between genotypes. In addition, GII titers remained consistent for at least 19 months post-infection, demonstrating durable immunity. In conclusion, the first natural norovirus gastroenteritis episodes in these young children were dominated by a limited number of genotypes and induced responses of antibodies blocking binding of norovirus VLPs in a genotype-specific manner, suggesting that an effective pediatric norovirus vaccine likely needs to be multivalent and include globally dominant genotypes. The duration of protection from natural infections provides optimism for pediatric norovirus vaccines administered early in life.

Preexisting Heterotypic Ligand-blocking Antibody Does Not Protect Against Genogroup II Norovirus Episodes in Young Children.

A birth cohort design was used to understand whether heterotypic ligand-blocking norovirus antibodies provide cross-protection within the GII genogroup. We found that almost one-half of children who experienced a norovirus GII episode had preexisting antibodies heterotypic to the infecting genotype; therefore, these antibodies did not provide cross-protection.

Breadth and Dynamics of Human Norovirus-Specific Antibodies in the First Year of Life.

We measured antibody binding to diverse norovirus virus-like particles over 12 months in 16 children. All had maternal antibodies at 2 months, with estimated lowest levels at 5 months of age. Antibody increases after 3 months suggested natural infections. This information could guide the timing of future norovirus vaccines.

Antigenic Site Immunodominance Redirection Following Repeat Variant Exposure.

Human norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis, driven by antigenic variants within the GII.4 genotype. Antibody responses to GII.4 vaccination in adults are shaped by immune memory. How children without extensive immune memory will respond to GII.4 vaccination has not been reported. Here, we characterized the GII.4 neutralizing antibody (nAb) landscape following natural infection using a surrogate assay and antigenic site chimera virus-like particles. We demonstrate that the nAb landscape changes with age and virus exposure. Among sites A, C, and G, nAbs from first infections are focused on sites A and C. As immunity develops with age/exposure, site A is supplemented with antibodies that bridge site A to sites C and G. Cross-site nAbs continue to develop into adulthood, accompanied by an increase in nAb to site G. Continued exposure to GII.4 2012 Sydney correlated with a shift to co-dominance of sites A and G. Furthermore, site G nAbs correlated with the broadening of nAb titer across antigenically divergent variants. These data describe fundamental steps in the development of immunity to GII.4 over a lifetime, and illustrate how the antigenicity of one pandemic variant could influence the pandemic potential of another variant through the redirection of immunodominant epitopes.

Dose-Response of a Norovirus GII.2 Controlled Human Challenge Model Inoculum.

BACKGROUND: Genogroup II noroviruses are the most common cause of acute infectious gastroenteritis. We evaluated the use of a new GII.2 inoculum in a human challenge. METHODS: Forty-four healthy adults (36 secretor-positive and 8 secretor-negative for histo-blood group antigens) were challenged with ascending doses of a new safety-tested Snow Mountain virus (SMV) GII.2 norovirus inoculum (1.2 × 104 to 1.2 × 107 genome equivalent copies [GEC]; n = 38) or placebo (n = 6). Illness was defined as diarrhea and/or vomiting postchallenge in subjects with evidence of infection (defined as GII.2 norovirus RNA detection in stool and/or anti-SMV immunoglobulin G [IgG] seroconversion). RESULTS: The highest dose was associated with SMV infection in 90%, and illness in 70% of subjects with 10 of 12 secretor-positive (83%) and 4 of 8 secretor-negative (50%) becoming ill. There was no association between prechallenge anti-SMV serum IgG concentration, carbohydrate-binding blockade antibody, or salivary immunoglobulin A and infection. The median infectious dose (ID50) was 5.1 × 105 GEC. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of infection and illness were observed in both secretor-positive and secretor-negative subjects in this challenge study. However, a high dose will be required to achieve the target of 75% illness to make this an efficient model for evaluating potential norovirus vaccines and therapeutics. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT02473224.

Secretor Status Strongly Influences the Incidence of Symptomatic Norovirus Infection in a Genotype-Dependent Manner in a Nicaraguan Birth Cohort.

BACKGROUND: The role of histo-blood group on the burden and severity of norovirus gastroenteritis in young infants has not been well documented. METHODS: Norovirus gastroenteritis was assessed in 443 Nicaraguan children followed from birth until 3 years of age. Stool samples were tested for norovirus by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) were determined by phenotyping of saliva and blood. Hazard ratios and predictors of norovirus acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outcome stratified by HBGA were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Of 1353 AGE episodes experienced by children, 229 (17%) tested positive for norovirus with an overall incidence of 21.9/100 child-years. Secretor children were infected as early as 2 months of age and had a higher incidence of norovirus GII compared to nonsecretor children (15.4 vs 4.1/100 child-years, P = .006). Furthermore, all GII.4 AGE episodes occurred in secretor children. Children infected with GI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.09 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .02-.33]) or non-GII.4 viruses (aOR, 0.2 [95% CI, .07-.6]) were less likely to have severe AGE compared to GII.4-infected children. CONCLUSIONS: Secretor status in children strongly influences the incidence of symptomatic norovirus infection in a genogroup or genotype-dependent manner and provides evidence that clinical severity in children depends on norovirus genotypes.

Predicted norovirus resurgence in 2021-2022 due to the relaxation of nonpharmaceutical interventions associated with COVID-19 restrictions in England: a mathematical modeling study.

BACKGROUND: To reduce the coronavirus disease burden in England, along with many other countries, the government implemented a package of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) that have also impacted other transmissible infectious diseases such as norovirus. It is unclear what future norovirus disease incidence is likely to look like upon lifting these restrictions. METHODS: Here we use a mathematical model of norovirus fitted to community incidence data in England to project forward expected incidence based on contact surveys that have been collected throughout 2020-2021. RESULTS: We report that susceptibility to norovirus infection has likely increased between March 2020 and mid-2021. Depending upon assumptions of future contact patterns incidence of norovirus that is similar to pre-pandemic levels or an increase beyond what has been previously reported is likely to occur once restrictions are lifted. Should adult contact patterns return to 80% of pre-pandemic levels, the incidence of norovirus will be similar to previous years. If contact patterns return to pre-pandemic levels, there is a potential for the expected annual incidence to be up to 2-fold larger than in a typical year. The age-specific incidence is similar across all ages. CONCLUSIONS: Continued national surveillance for endemic diseases such as norovirus will be essential after NPIs are lifted to allow healthcare services to adequately prepare for a potential increase in cases and hospital pressures beyond what is typically experienced.

Serological Humoral Immunity Following Natural Infection of Children with High Burden Gastrointestinal Viruses.

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, resulting in an estimated 440,571 deaths of children under age 5 annually. Rotavirus, norovirus, and sapovirus are leading causes of childhood AGE. A successful rotavirus vaccine has reduced rotavirus hospitalizations by more than 50%. Using rotavirus as a guide, elucidating the determinants, breath, and duration of serological antibody immunity to AGE viruses, as well as host genetic factors that define susceptibility is essential for informing development of future vaccines and improving current vaccine candidates. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of disease burden and serological antibody immunity following natural infection to inform further vaccine development for these three high-burden viruses.

Chimeric spike mRNA vaccines protect against Sarbecovirus challenge in mice.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2003 and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 highlights the need to develop universal vaccination strategies against the broader Sarbecovirus subgenus. Using chimeric spike designs, we demonstrate protection against challenge from SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351, bat CoV (Bt-CoV) RsSHC014, and a heterologous Bt-CoV WIV-1 in vulnerable aged mice. Chimeric spike messenger RNAs (mRNAs) induced high levels of broadly protective neutralizing antibodies against high-risk Sarbecoviruses. By contrast, SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination not only showed a marked reduction in neutralizing titers against heterologous Sarbecoviruses, but SARS-CoV and WIV-1 challenge in mice resulted in breakthrough infections. Chimeric spike mRNA vaccines efficiently neutralized D614G, mink cluster five, and the UK B.1.1.7 and South African B.1.351 variants of concern. Thus, multiplexed-chimeric spikes can prevent SARS-like zoonotic coronavirus infections with pandemic potential.

Predicted Norovirus Resurgence in 2021-2022 Due to the Relaxation of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions Associated with COVID-19 Restrictions in England: A Mathematical Modelling Study.

BACKGROUND: To reduce the coronavirus disease burden in England, along with many other countries, the Government implemented a package of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) that have also impacted other transmissible infectious diseases such as norovirus. It is unclear what future norovirus disease incidence is likely to look like upon lifting these restrictions. METHODS: Here we use a mathematical model of norovirus fitted to community incidence data in England to project forward expected incidence based on contact surveys that have been collected throughout 2020-2021. RESULTS: We report that susceptibility to norovirus infection has likely increased between March 2020 to mid-2021. Depending upon assumptions of future contact patterns incidence of norovirus that is similar to pre-pandemic levels or an increase beyond what has been previously reported is likely to occur once restrictions are lifted. Should adult contact patterns return to 80% of pre-pandemic levels the incidence of norovirus will be similar to previous years. If contact patterns return to pre-pandemic levels there is a potential for the expected annual incidence to be up to 2-fold larger than in a typical year. The age-specific incidence is similar across all ages. CONCLUSIONS: Continued national surveillance for endemic diseases such as norovirus will be essential after NPIs are lifted to allow healthcare services to adequately prepare for a potential increase in cases and hospital pressures beyond what is typically experienced.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines elicit durable immune responses in infant rhesus macaques.

The inclusion of infants in the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine roll-out is important to prevent severe complications of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infections and to limit transmission and could possibly be implemented via the global pediatric vaccine schedule. However, age-dependent differences in immune function require careful evaluation of novel vaccines in the pediatric population. Toward this goal, we assessed the safety and immunogenicity of two SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Two groups of 8 infant rhesus macaques (RMs) were immunized intramuscularly at weeks 0 and 4 with stabilized prefusion SARS-CoV-2 S-2P spike (S) protein encoded by mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (mRNA-LNP) or the purified S protein mixed with 3M-052, a synthetic TLR7/8 agonist in a squalene emulsion (Protein+3M-052-SE). Neither vaccine induced adverse effects. Both vaccines elicited high magnitude IgG binding to RBD, N terminus domain, S1, and S2, ACE2 blocking activity, and high neutralizing antibody titers, all peaking at week 6. S-specific memory B cells were detected by week 4 and S-specific T cell responses were dominated by the production of IL-17, IFN-γ, or TNF-α. Antibody and cellular responses were stable through week 22. The immune responses for the mRNA-LNP vaccine were of a similar magnitude to those elicited by the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine in adults. The S-2P mRNA-LNP and Protein-3M-052-SE vaccines were well-tolerated and highly immunogenic in infant RMs, providing proof-of concept for a pediatric SARS-CoV-2 vaccine with the potential for durable immunity that might decrease the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and mitigate the ongoing health and socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19.

A luciferase-based approach for measuring HBGA blockade antibody titers against human norovirus.

BACKGROUND: Noroviruses are the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide, yet there is a deficit in the understanding of protective immunity. Surrogate neutralization assays have been widely used that measure the ability of antibodies to block virus-like particle (VLP) binding to histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs). However, screening large sample sets against multiple antigens using the traditional HBGA blocking assay requires significant investment in terms of time, equipment, and technical expertise, largely associated with the generation of purified VLPs. METHODS: To address these issues, a luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay was modified to measure the norovirus-specific HBGA blockade activity of antibodies. The assay (designated LIPS-Blockade) was validated using a panel of well-characterized homotypic and heterotypic hyperimmune sera as well as strain-specific HBGA blocking monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: The LIPS-Blockade assay was comparable in specificity to a standard HBGA blocking protocol performed with VLPs. Using time-ordered patient sera, the luciferase-based approach was also able to detect changes in HBGA blocking titers following viral challenge and natural infection with norovirus. CONCLUSION: In this study we developed a rapid, robust, and scalable surrogate neutralization assay for noroviruses that circumvented the need for purified VLPs. This LIPS-Blockade assay should streamline the process of large-scale immunological studies, ultimately aiding in the characterization of protective immunity to human noroviruses.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines Elicit Durable Immune Responses in Infant Rhesus Macaques.

Early life SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has the potential to provide lifelong protection and achieve herd immunity. To evaluate SARS-CoV-2 infant vaccination, we immunized two groups of 8 infant rhesus macaques (RMs) at weeks 0 and 4 with stabilized prefusion SARS-CoV-2 S-2P spike (S) protein, either encoded by mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (mRNA-LNP) or mixed with 3M-052-SE, a TLR7/8 agonist in a squalene emulsion (Protein+3M-052-SE). Neither vaccine induced adverse effects. High magnitude S-binding IgG and neutralizing infectious dose 50 (ID 50 ) >10 3 were elicited by both vaccines. S-specific T cell responses were dominated by IL-17, IFN- γ , or TNF- α . Antibody and cellular responses were stable through week 22. The S-2P mRNA-LNP and Protein-3M-052-SE vaccines are promising pediatric SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates to achieve durable protective immunity. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are well-tolerated and highly immunogenic in infant rhesus macaques.