Associação entre fatores de risco cardiovascular e indicadores antropométricos de obesidade em universitários de São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil / The association between cardiovascular risk factors and anthropometric obesity indicators in university students in São Luís in the State of Maranhão, Brazil

O presente artigo tem por objetivo avaliar associação entre fatores de risco cardiovascular (FRCV) e indicadores antropométricos em amostra de base populacional de universitários de São Luís/MA. Estudo transversal com 968 universitários, mediana de 22 anos. Glicemia, triglicerídeos (TGL), HDL-c, tabagismo, consumo de álcool, sedentarismo, síndrome metabólica (SM–critérios do Joint Interim Statement) e resistência insulínica (RI), foram associados e correlacionados com os indicadores antropométricos Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), Circunferência da Cintura (CC), Relação Cintura Quadril (RCQ) e Relação Cintura Altura (RCA). Encontraram-se associações entre TGL, HAS, SM e maiores valores de todas as variáveis antropométricas. RI associou-se a maiores valores IMC e RCA em homens e mulheres. Baixo HDL-c foi associado a maiores valores de todas as variáveis antropométricas em mulheres. Consumo de álcool associou-se a valores mais elevados de IMC e CC em mulheres e RCQ e RCA em homens. Fumo associou-se a maiores valores de RCA em ambos os sexos. Sedentarismo foi associado a maiores valores de RCQ apenas em homens. As correlações mais altas foram estabelecidas para mulheres entre TGL e IMC, CC, RCQ e RCA. Os indicadores que mais se associaram aos FRCV foram IMC, CC e RCA em mulheres e RCQ e RCA em homens.

The article aims to evaluate the relation between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and anthropometric indicators in a sample of university students from São Luís-MA, Brazil. It is a cross-sectional study conducted with 968 university students, with median age of 22. Glycemia, triglycerides, HDL-c, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, metabolic syndrome (Joint Interim Statement criteria) and insulin resistance (IR), were associated and correlated with anthropometric indicators such as BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR. Associations were found between TGL, SH, SM and higher values of all anthropometric variables. The RI was associated with higher BMI values and WHtR in men and women. The low HDL-c was associated with higher values of all anthropometric variables in women. Consumption of alcohol was associated with higher values of BMI and WC in women and WHR in men and WHtR. Smoking was associated with higher values of WHtR in both sexes. Physical inactivity was associated with higher values of WHR in men only. The highest correlations were established for women between TGL and BMI CC, WHR and WHtR. The indicators most associated with CVRF were BMI, WC and WHtR in females and WHR and WHtR in men.

Development of a Gaussia luciferase-based human norovirus protease reporter system: cell type-specific profile of Norwalk virus protease precursors and evaluation of inhibitors.

UNLABELLED: Norwalk virus (NV) is the prototype strain of human noroviruses (HuNoVs), a group of positive-strand RNA viruses in the Caliciviridae family and the leading cause of epidemic gastroenteritis worldwide. Investigation of HuNoV replication and development of antiviral therapeutics in cell culture remain challenging tasks. Here, we present NoroGLuc, a HuNoV protease reporter system based on a fusion of NV p41 protein with a naturally secreted Gaussia luciferase (GLuc), linked by the p41/p22 cleavage site for NV protease (Pro). trans cleavage of NoroGLuc by NV Pro or Pro precursors results in release and secretion of an active GLuc. Using this system, we observed a cell type-specific activity profile of NV Pro and Pro precursors, suggesting that the activity of NV Pro is modulated by other viral proteins in the precursor forms and strongly influenced by cellular factors. NoroGLuc was also cleaved by Pro and Pro precursors generated from replication of NV stool RNA in transfected cells, resulting in a measurable increase of secreted GLuc. Truncation analysis revealed that the N-terminal membrane association domain of NV p41 is critical for NoroGLuc activity. Although designed for NV, a genogroup GI.1 norovirus, NoroGLuc also efficiently detects Pro activities from GII.3 and GII.4 noroviruses. At noncytotoxic concentrations, protease inhibitors ZnCl2 and Nα-p-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) exhibited dose-dependent inhibitory effects on a GII.4 Pro by NoroGLuc assay. These results establish NoroGLuc as a pan-genogroup HuNoV protease reporter system that can be used for the study of HuNoV proteases and precursors, monitoring of viral RNA replication, and evaluation of antiviral agents. IMPORTANCE: Human noroviruses are the leading cause of epidemic gastroenteritis worldwide. Currently, there are no vaccines or antiviral drugs available to counter these highly contagious viruses. These viruses are currently noncultivatable in cell culture. Here, we report the development of a novel cell-based reporter system called NoroGLuc that can be used for studying norovirus replication and also for screening/evaluation of antiviral agents. This system is based on the fusion between viral protein p41 and a naturally secreted Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) with a cleavage site that can be recognized by the viral protease. Cleavage of this fusion protein by the viral protease results in the release and secretion of an active GLuc. Using NoroGLuc, we demonstrated a cell type-specific activity profile of the viral protease and its precursors and dose-dependent inhibitory effects of two protease inhibitors. This novel reporter system should be useful in probing norovirus replication and evaluating antiviral agents.

The enterovirus protease inhibitor rupintrivir exerts cross-genotypic anti-norovirus activity and clears cells from the norovirus replicon.

Potent and safe inhibitors of norovirus replication are needed for the treatment and prophylaxis of norovirus infections. We here report that the in vitro anti-norovirus activity of the protease inhibitor rupintrivir is extended to murine noroviruses and that rupintrivir clears human cells from their Norwalk replicon after only two passages of antiviral pressure. In addition, we demonstrate that rupintrivir inhibits the human norovirus (genogroup II [GII]) protease and further explain the inhibitory effect of the molecule by means of molecular modeling on the basis of the crystal structure of the Norwalk virus protease. The combination of rupintrivir with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors 2'-C-methylcytidine and favipiravir (T-705) resulted in a merely additive antiviral effect. The fact that rupintrivir is active against noroviruses belonging to genogroup I (Norwalk virus), genogroup V (murine norovirus), and the recombinant 3C-like protease of a GII norovirus suggests that the drug exerts cross-genotypic anti-norovirus activity and will thus most likely be effective against the clinically relevant human norovirus strains. The design of antiviral molecules targeting the norovirus protease could be a valuable approach for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of norovirus infections.

Structural basis of substrate specificity and protease inhibition in Norwalk virus.

Norwalk virus (NV), the prototype human calicivirus, is the leading cause of nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis. The NV protease cleaves the polyprotein encoded by open reading frame 1 of the viral genome at five nonhomologous sites, releasing six nonstructural proteins that are essential for viral replication. The structural details of how NV protease recognizes multiple substrates are unclear. In our X-ray structure of an NV protease construct, we observed that the C-terminal tail, representing the native substrate positions P5 to P1, is inserted into the active site cleft of the neighboring protease molecule, providing atomic details of how NV protease recognizes a substrate. The crystallographic structure of NV protease with the C-terminal tail redesigned to mimic P4 to P1 of another substrate site provided further structural details on how the active site accommodates sequence variations in the substrates. Based on these structural analyses, substrate-based aldehyde inhibitors were synthesized and screened for inhibition potency. Crystallographic structures of the protease in complex with each of the three most potent inhibitors were determined. These structures showed concerted conformational changes in the S4 and S2 pockets of the protease to accommodate variations in the P4 and P2 residues of the substrate/inhibitor, which could be a mechanism for how the NV protease recognizes multiple sites in the polyprotein with differential affinities during virus replication. These structures further indicate that the mechanism of inhibition by these inhibitors involves covalent bond formation with the side chain of the conserved cysteine in the active site by nucleophilic addition, and such substrate-based aldehydes could be effective protease inhibitors.

Substrate specificity of Tulane virus protease.

Tulane virus (TV) is a cultivable calicivirus isolated from rhesus monkeys. In this study, we characterized the substrate specificity of TV protease in trans using recombinant proteases and TV polyprotein fragments containing the predicted proteolytic cleavage sites. Cleavage products have been obtained from 4 of the 5 fragments containing (573)Q-S(574) between the helicase and 3A-like protein, (712)E-A(713) between the 3A-like protein and Vpg, (802)E-G(803) between Vpg and the protease, and (976)E-G(977) between the protease and RdRp. We also characterized the enzymatic activities of the recombinant proteases of TV and Norwalk virus using synthetic fluorogenic peptide substrates. Under optimal conditions for enzymatic assays, partial cross-reactivities on reciprocal substrates were observed between TV and Norwalk virus proteases. The apparently shared substrate specificities between TV and Norwalk virus proteases suggested that the cultivable TV could be used as a model for in vivo evaluation of lead candidates of protease inhibitors for human norovirus.

Characterization and inhibition of norovirus proteases of genogroups I and II using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay.

Noroviruses are the major cause of food- or water-borne gastroenteritis outbreaks in humans. The norovirus protease that cleaves a large viral polyprotein to nonstructural proteins is essential for virus replication and an attractive target for antiviral drug development. Noroviruses show high genetic diversity with at least five genogroups, GI-GV, of which GI and GII are responsible for the majority of norovirus infections in humans. We cloned and expressed proteases of Norwalk virus (GI) and MD145 virus (GII) and characterized the enzymatic activities with fluorescence resonance energy transfer substrates. We demonstrated that the GI and GII proteases cleaved the substrates derived from the naturally occurring cleavage site in the open reading frame (ORF) 1 of G1 norovirus with similar efficiency, and that enzymatic activity of both proteases was inhibited by commercial protease inhibitors including chymostatin. The interaction of chymostatin to Norwalk virus protease was validated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Backbone and side-chain ¹H, ¹5N, and ¹³C resonance assignments of Norwalk virus protease.

Norovirus protease cleaves the virus-encoded polyprotein into six mature nonstructural proteins, presenting itself as an essential enzyme for the viral replication as well as an attractive target for the antiviral drug development. A deeper understanding of the structural mechanism of the protease-substrates/inhibitors interactions by means of solution NMR methods would facilitate a rational design of the virus protease inhibitor. We here report the backbone and side-chain resonance assignment of the protease from Norwalk virus, which is the prototype strain of norovirus. The assignment data has been deposited in the BMRB database under the accession number 17523.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of inhibitors of Norwalk virus 3C protease.

The first series of peptidyl aldehyde inhibitors that incorporate in their structure a glutamine surrogate has been designed and synthesized based on the known substrate specificity of Norwalk virus 3C protease. The inhibitory activity of the compounds with the protease and with a norovirus cell-based replicon system was investigated. Members of this class of compounds exhibited noteworthy activity both in vitro and in a cell-based replicon system.

Structural insights into mechanisms of catalysis and inhibition in Norwalk virus polymerase.

Crystal structures of Norwalk virus polymerase bound to an RNA primer-template duplex and either the natural substrate CTP or the inhibitor 5-nitrocytidine triphosphate have been determined to 1.8A resolution. These structures reveal a closed conformation of the polymerase that differs significantly from previously determined open structures of calicivirus and picornavirus polymerases. These closed complexes are trapped immediately prior to the nucleotidyl transfer reaction, with the triphosphate group of the nucleotide bound to two manganese ions at the active site, poised for reaction to the 3'-hydroxyl group of the RNA primer. The positioning of the 5-nitrocytidine triphosphate nitro group between the alpha-phosphate and the 3'-hydroxyl group of the primer suggests a novel, general approach for the design of antiviral compounds mimicking natural nucleosides and nucleotides.

X-ray crystallographic structure of the Norwalk virus protease at 1.5-A resolution.

Norwalk virus (NV), a member of the Caliciviridae family, is the major cause of acute, epidemic, viral gastroenteritis. The NV genome is a positive sense, single-stranded RNA that encodes three open reading frames (ORFs). The first ORF produces a polyprotein that is processed by the viral cysteine protease into six nonstructural proteins. We have determined the structure of the NV protease to 1.5 and 2.2 A from crystals grown in the absence or presence, respectively, of the protease inhibitor AEBSF [4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride]. The protease, which crystallizes as a stable dimer, exhibits a two-domain structure similar to those of other viral cysteine proteases with a catalytic triad composed of His 30, Glu 54, and Cys 139. The native structure of the protease reveals strong hydrogen bond interactions between His 30 and Glu 54, in the favorable syn configuration, indicating a role of Glu 54 during proteolysis. Mutation of this residue to Ala abolished the protease activity, in a fluorogenic peptide substrate assay, further substantiating the role of Glu 54 during proteolysis. These observations contrast with the suggestion, from a previous study of another norovirus protease, that this residue may not have a prominent role in proteolysis (K. Nakamura, Y. Someya, T. Kumasaka, G. Ueno, M. Yamamoto, T. Sato, N. Takeda, T. Miyamura, and N. Tanaka, J. Virol. 79:13685-13693, 2005). In the structure from crystals grown in the presence of AEBSF, Glu 54 undergoes a conformational change leading to disruption of the hydrogen bond interactions with His 30. Since AEBSF was not apparent in the electron density map, it is possible that these conformational changes are due to subtle changes in pH caused by its addition during crystallization.

Crystal structure of norwalk virus polymerase reveals the carboxyl terminus in the active site cleft.

Norwalk virus is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis for which effective treatments are sorely lacking. To provide a basis for the rational design of novel antiviral agents, the main replication enzyme in Norwalk virus, the virally encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), has been expressed in an enzymatically active form, and its structure has been crystallographically determined both in the presence and absence of divalent metal cations. Although the overall fold of the enzyme is similar to that seen previously in the RdRP from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, the carboxyl terminus, surprisingly, is located in the active site cleft in five independent copies of the protein in three distinct crystal forms. The location of this carboxyl-terminal segment appears to interfere with the binding of double-stranded RNA in the active site cleft and may play a role in the initiation of RNA synthesis or mediate interactions with accessory replication proteins.

Substrate specificity of the Norwalk virus 3C-like proteinase.

The Norwalk Virus (NV) is the prototype strain of human caliciviruses that cause epidemic outbreaks of foodborne and waterborne gastroenteritis. These viruses do not grow in cell culture and the mechanisms of virus replication are obscure. The NV genome is a 7.7 kb ssRNA molecule that encodes three open reading frames (ORFs). The first ORF is a 1789 amino acid polyprotein that is processed into nonstructural proteins by a viral protease similar to the picornavirus 3C protease. Primary cleavage sites in the ORF1 polyprotein of two Norwalk-like viruses have been identified as QG dipeptides. We studied primary cleavage sites in the NV polyprotein and residues surrounding the scissile bond that are important in substrate recognition. A series of mutations were made at amino acids occupying positions implicated as important in cleavage site recognition for chymotrypsin-like viral proteases. We determined that effective processing at amino acid 398 to release the N-terminal p48 protein is necessary for proteolytic release of the p41 protein, that the P4 position N-terminal to the scissile bond is important for efficient processing, and that substitution of large hydrophobic residues were tolerated at this position. Finally, we defined the acidic residue of the 3CL(pro) catalytic site.

Molecular detection and sequencing of "Norwalk-like viruses" in outbreaks and sporadic cases of gastroenteritis in Ireland.

Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs) are now established as the most important causative agents of epidemic gastroenteritis worldwide. The overall objective of this study was to determine the molecular epidemiology of Irish NLV isolates for the first time by obtaining sequence data from specimens originating from outbreaks and sporadic cases of gastroenteritis. Eight samples from sporadic cases of gastroenteritis and nine isolates from separate NLV outbreaks were examined. Of the sporadic isolates, six were shown to be genogroup 2 (G2) by RT-PCR, while two were G1. All of the outbreak isolates were G2. All isolates were partially sequenced within a highly conserved region of ORF1 (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene). Sequence data were aligned and a dendogram was constructed. The results indicated that the majority of G2 isolates were seen to cluster with Bristol and Lordsdale virus, while the two G1 specimens were related most closely to Southampton virus. Further downstream sequence analysis of a number of the isolates confirmed this result. It is concluded that the majority of NLV isolates circulating in Ireland belong to the Bristol/Lordsdale clade.

Design and evaluation of a primer pair that detects both Norwalk- and Sapporo-like caliciviruses by RT-PCR.

A primer pair (p289/290) based on the RNA polymerase sequence of 25 prototype and currently circulating strains of human caliciviruses (HuCVs) was designed for the detection of both Norwalk-like caliciviruses (NLVs) and Sapporo-like caliciviruses (SLVs) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). This primer pair produces RT-PCR products of 319 bp for NLVs and 331 bp for SLVs. The usefulness of this primer pair was shown by its detection of prototype NLVs (Norwalk, Snow Mountain, Hawaii and Mexico viruses) and SLVs (Sapporo/82, Hou/86, Hou/90 and Lon/92) and currently circulating strains of NLVs and SLVs in children and adults. This primer pair also detected more viruses in either NLV or SLV genera than previously designed primers. This primer pair is useful for broad detection of HuCVs for clinical and epidemiologic studies as well as for environmental monitoring.

The bovine Newbury agent-2 is genetically more closely related to human SRSVs than to animal caliciviruses.

The hypothesis that the enteric bovine calici-like virus Newbury agent (NA-2) belongs to the family Caliciviridae was examined by genome sequence analysis. Use of solid-phase immune electron microscopy allowed samples with good levels of virus to be identified and amplification of the genome was achieved by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Examination of a 216-amino-acid sequence in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene and a 116-amino-acid sequence in the capsid gene showed that NA-2 had the closest deduced amino acid identity (77 to 80% for the polymerase region and 67 to 73% for the capsid region) to the morphologically indistinguishable human SRSVs (small round structured viruses) of genogroup 1, which are classified as members of the Caliciviridae. It had a weak relationship (<34.5% deduced amino acid identity) in both the polymerase and the capsid regions to animal caliciviruses, all of which have classical morphology. This is the first genomic data from a nonhuman virus with SRSV morphology. It confirms the hypothesis that the bovine enteric calici-like virus NA-2 is a member of the family Caliciviridae and endorses the observation to date that viruses with SRSV morphology are genomically distinct.

Molecular epidemiology of outbreaks of gastroenteritis associated with small round-structured viruses in East Anglia, United Kingdom, during the 1996-1997 season.

During the winter season from November 1996 to May 1997, 550 fecal specimens were submitted from 94 outbreaks of gastroenteritis occurring in East Anglia, United Kingdom. These specimens were tested for the presence of small round-structured viruses (SRSVs) by electron microscopy, reverse transcriptase PCR, or both methods. SRSVs were shown to be associated with 64 of 94 (68%) of these outbreaks, of which 16 (25%) outbreaks occurred at a single location (Southend) within the region. Twenty-four specimens from 13 of the 16 SRSV-positive outbreaks occurring in Southend were available for genomic analysis, in which divergence within the RNA polymerase region of the SRSV genome was investigated. A further 27 specimens from 17 other SRSV-associated outbreaks, occurring at different locations within East Anglia but at the same time as those at Southend, were also studied. Fifty of the total of 51 (98%) specimens studied were shown to belong to genogroup II, and within this genogroup, 49 of 50 (98%) specimens were shown to be Grimsby-like viruses, with only one Mexico-like strain. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the Grimsby-like viruses indicated clusterings according to the geographical location of the outbreak. One specimen contained a virus belonging to genogroup I, and this had the greatest sequence identity (83%) with Southampton virus.

A one-tube method of reverse transcription-PCR to efficiently amplify a 3-kilobase region from the RNA polymerase gene to the poly(A) tail of small round-structured viruses (Norwalk-like viruses).

Amplification of a 3-kb genome region from the RNA polymerase gene to the 3' poly(A) tail of small round-structured virus (SRSV) by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) has been difficult to achieve because of a stable secondary structure in a region between the RNA polymerase gene and the 5' end of the second open reading frame. We have developed a one-tube RT-PCR method to efficiently amplify this region. The method comprises three procedures: purification of poly(A)+ RNA from a starting RNA solution by oligo(dT)30 covalently linked to latex particles, buffer exchange, and continuous RT and PCR in a single tube containing all reaction components. The key elements of this method are (i) first-strand cDNA synthesis with the Superscript II version of RNase H- Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase at 50 degrees C for 10 min by using the RNA-oligo(dT)30 hybrid on the latex particles as the template and primer, and (ii) PCR by Taq and Pwo DNA polymerases mixed together with a mixture of 12 phased oligo(dT)25 antisense primers. The detection threshold of the one-tube RT-PCR method was as little as 0.2 ng of the crude RNA used as the source of the template. Using this method, we obtained 3-kb products from 24 SRSV strains previously characterized into four genetic groups. These included 5 P1-A, 4 P1-B, 5 P2-A, and 10 P2-B strains. Because SRSVs have not yet been cultivated in vitro, this novel method should facilitate molecular characterization of SRSVs to provide a firm scientific foundation for improvements and refinements of SRSV diagnostics.

Correlation of patient immune responses with genetically characterized small round-structured viruses involved in outbreaks of nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis in the United States, 1990 to 1995.

Small round-structured viruses (SRSVs) are a genetically and antigenically diverse group of caliciviruses that are the most common cause of outbreaks of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis. We have applied both molecular techniques to characterize SRSVs in fecal specimens and serologic assays using four different expressed SRSV antigens to examine the distribution of outbreak strains in the United States and determine if the immune responses of patients were strain specific. Strains from 23 outbreaks of SRSV gastroenteritis were characterized by reverse transcription-PCR and nucleotide sequencing of a 277-base region of the capsid gene. These strains segregated into two distinct genogroups, I and II, comprising four and six clusters of strains respectively, each representing a distinct phylogenetic lineage. Serum IgG responses in patients were measured by enzyme immunoassay using expressed capsid antigens of Norwalk virus (NV), Toronto virus (TV), Hawaii virus (HV), and Lordsdale virus (LV), representing four of the 10 clusters. While strains in genogroups I and II were antigenically distinct, within genogroups, the specificity of the immune response varied greatly. Patients infected with genogroup I strains which had as much as 38.5% aa divergence from NV demonstrated relatively homologous seroresponses to the single NV antigen. In contrast, in genogroup II, homologous seroresponses to TV and HV were only present when the infecting strains showed less than 6.5% aa divergence from these antigens. These results suggest that TV and HV represent not only separate genetic clusters in genogroup II but also separate antigenic groups, each of which is related but distinguishable. In addition, two genetically distinct SRSV strains were identified for which we have no homologous antigen. This study suggests that while current molecular diagnostics are capable of detecting the full range of SRSVs, additional expressed antigens will be required to detect an immune response to SRSV infection caused by all the antigenically diverse strains.

Human enteric Caliciviridae: a new prevalent small round-structured virus group defined by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and capsid diversity.

Sequence comparison of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of small round-structured viruses (SRSVs) from 10 recent U.K. outbreaks of gastroenteritis revealed significant genetic variation. Computer analyses indicated that these viruses can be divided into two discrete groups. SRSV group I contains the previously characterized antigenic type 1 Norwalk and type 3 Southampton viruses. The amino acid sequences of the RNA polymerase, capsid and ORF3 of these two viruses are relatively similar (about 92%, 69% and 72% amino acid identity, respectively). A representative member of group II SRSVs, Bristol virus, was subjected to a detailed genetic analysis. Bristol virus is a recent antigenic type 2 isolate from a U.K. hospital outbreak of gastroenteritis. Using a single clinical sample the 3'-terminal 3881 nucleotide cDNA sequence [excluding the poly(A) tail] of this virus was determined. Analysis of the sequence revealed significant differences from those of group I viruses with the RNA polymerase region, capsid and ORF3 showing only about 62%, 43% and 30% amino acid identity respectively with the equivalent proteins of the Norwalk and Southampton viruses. These data suggest that the morphologically identical SRSVs belong to at least two genetically distinct groups.

Detection of Norwalk virus in the UK by the polymerase chain reaction.

We have developed a polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Norwalk virus using the published sequence of the virus RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene and have used this to clone and sequence this region of a virus from a UK outbreak. We have applied this method to a panel of UK Norwalk-like viruses using both Tet-z and Taq DNA polymerases and found that amplification produces a multiplicity of bands from stool samples. However, in combination with Southern blotting, Taq polymerase amplification detected virus in 13 of a panel of 30 clinical samples known to contain these viruses and also detected astroviruses in a mixed infection. Amplification using Tet-z DNA polymerase was less efficient (6/30) and detected predominantly viruses typed as UK type 2 by solid phase immune electron microscopy.