Binding of Norovirus virus-like particles (VLPs) to human intestinal Caco-2 cells and the suppressive effect of pasteurized bovine colostrum on this VLP binding

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2010;74(3):541-7. doi: 10.1271/bbb.90729. Epub 2010 Mar 7.

Abstract

Noroviruses (NoVs), which cannot be grown in cell culture, are a major infectious agent of gastroenteritis. An in vitro assay system was established for the evaluation of NoV binding to enterocytes using virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in a baculovirus system expressing a NoV VP1 capsid protein. After confirmation of the purity by MS analysis, VLPs were incubated with human intestinal Caco-2 cells. NoV VLPs were detected clearly by confocal laser microscopy only on a certain population of Caco-2 cells, and were semi-quantified by immunoblotting of cell lysates. Then the suppressive effect of pasteurized bovine colostrum was analyzed on the VLP binding to Caco-2 cells by immunoblotting. The colostrum reduced VLP binding in a dose-dependent manner, at about 50% suppression with 12.5 microg of the colostral proteins. Furthermore, the colostrum contained IgG antibodies reacting to VLPs, suggesting that cross-reactive antibodies in the bovine colostrums block human NoV binding to intestinal cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Biological Assay
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Capsid Proteins / immunology*
  • Cattle
  • Colostrum / immunology*
  • Female
  • Gastroenteritis / virology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Norovirus / immunology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Virion / immunology*
  • Virus Attachment*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Capsid Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin G