Human Milk Contains Elements That Block Binding of Noroviruses to Human Histo—Blood Group Antigens in Saliva

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 190; no. 10; pp. 1850 - 1859
• Main Authors: Jiang, Xi, Huang, Pengwei, Zhong, Weiming, Tan, Ming, Farkas, Tibor, Morrow, Ardythe L., Newburg, David S., Ruiz-Palacios, Guillermo M., Pickering, Larry K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 15.11.2004; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Antibodies; Antigens; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Group Antigens - metabolism; Blood groups; Caliciviridae Infections - prevention & control; Epitopes; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Mexico; Microbiology; Milk, Human - immunology; Norovirus; Norovirus - physiology; Norwalk virus; Oligosaccharides; Receptors; Receptors, Virus - metabolism; Saliva; Saliva - immunology; Saliva - virology; Virginia; Virues; Virus Inactivation; Viruses; Mexico; Virginia; Antigen; Human; Infection; Blood group; Microbiology; Saliva; Milk
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/425159

Noroviruses (NVs) recognize human histo—blood group antigens (HBGAs) as receptors. We characterized the interaction of human milk samples with recombinant virus-like particles representing VA387, Norwalk, VA207, and MOH. Milk samples from 60 healthy women were tested for human HBGAs and for their ability to block the binding of NVs. Fifty-four women were secretors (Se+), and 6 were nonsecretors (Se−). No women had detectable A or B antigens in their milk samples. All 54 Se+ milk samples, but 0 of 6 Se− milk samples, blocked VA387 and Norwalk virus (Se+ binders) from binding to saliva samples. All 6 Lewis-positive Se− milk samples blocked binding to VA207, and variable blocking activities were exhibited by the Se+ milk samples. No milk samples blocked the binding of MOH to A and B antigens. Secretor and Lewis, but not A or B antigens, were present in human milk and were responsible for blocking NV binding to receptors and therefore are likely to be decoy receptors that protect breast-fed infants from NV infection.