Genetic factors but also the intestinal microbiota influence the susceptibility to viral gastroenteritis

An investigation by the IATA-CSIC Group of Lactic Bacteria and Probiotics in collaboration with the Laboratory of Enteric Viruses of the Department of Microbiology and Ecology of the University of Valencia, states that the genotype of the FUT2 gene, intestinal microbiota and susceptibility to infection are "key and interrelated" factors in the incidence of viral gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus and norovirus. In the case of rotavirus there are commercially available vaccines since 2006, but not for norovirus. "In the case of the rotavirus vaccine, cases of failure in vaccination have been detected, which could be due to the composition in the microbiota of the patients," says Jesús Rodríguez. "Our study on the role of intestinal microbiota in the incidence of gastrointestinal virus infection could lead to improve the vaccines currently available," added IATA researchers Vicente Monedero and María Carmen Collado. ( More information ).   See: Relevance of secretor status genotype and microbiota composition in susceptibility to rotavirus and norovirus infections in humans. (Scientific Reports 2017; 7: nº 45559)