Study Role of Norovirus in Benign Infantile Convulsions and Its Pathological Mechanisms

Viral gastroenteritis composed of 70% -80% of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children that accounts for several clinical syndromes including diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration and even death. Among these viral pathogens, Rotavirus remains the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and caused 500,000 deaths in children annually, nevertheless other viruses also play a role, such as Norovirus, and Adenovirus. Based on our study, Rotavirus, Norovirus, and Adenovirus are also the three major viruses causing viral AGE in hospitalized pediatric patients of Northern Taiwan. Among these AGE patients, we found that some of them developed benign infantile convulsions. Result of etiology showed that Norovirus might be an infectious agent associated with benign infantile convulsions in these AGE patients. Based on our previous results, in this three years project, we will continue to focus on role of Norovirus in benign infantile convulsions and most importantly, the possible pathological mechanisms of Norovirus in this disease will try to evaluate. To address that, in the first to second years, we will continue to collect more fecal specimens from viral AGE patients (n=200~ 400), etiology of AGE specimen will be determined by reverse transcription real-time PCR. Norovirus positive samples (with or without benign infantile convulsions) (n= 50~ 100) will be complete sequenced Norovirus genome to reveal if any possible sequences differences between Norovirus isolated from AGE patients with and without benign infantile convulsions . Besides, from second to third years, all ORFs will be amplified and analyzed their biological functions; especially focusing on if any Norovirus genes affect functions of genes encoding voltage-gated channels and Ligand-gated channels. The information obtaining from this grant will help us to understand more about role of Norovirus in benign infantile convulsions and also explore the underlying pathological mechanisms of Norovirus, which will be help for vaccine development and disease control of Norovirus in the future.

Project ID:PC9902-1667
External Project ID:NSC98-2320-B182-034-MY3