Research
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) conducts research on foodborne viruses that cause diarrhea, such as caliciviruses (which include noroviruses), rotavirus, astrovirus, and hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses.
NIAID scientist Albert Kapikian is recognized as "the father of human gastroenteritis virus research." In 1972, Dr. Kapikian identified the Norwalk virus, the first virus associated with acute epidemic gastroenteritis.
Today, NIAID supports research to develop vaccines against noroviruses and to enhance scientific understanding of norovirus pathogenicity (the disease-producing capacity of the virus) and the body's response. For example, researchers are examining genetic differences in response to norovirus infection as some people are more susceptible to succumbing to diarrhea and vomiting upon infection while others are not. In addition, NIAID-supported researchers are making progress in determining what makes different strains of noroviruses pathogenic.
NIAID also supports research to generate vaccine candidates against several different norovirus strains. Current studies are trying to produce new vaccines including edible vaccines against Norwalk virus and hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses.
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