week 10

• What is the main focus of BMS2085 course?

  Viral gastroenteritis and its impact
• What are the learning objectives of the course?

  Understand properties of gastroenteritis viruses
• What are the main parts of the lecture outline?

  • Introduction to viral gastroenteritis
  • Main viral groups causing gastroenteritis
  • Disease profile, transmission, and distribution
  • Key molecular properties contributing to pathogenesis
• How many people suffer from diarrhoea daily worldwide?

  200 million people
• What is the worldwide mortality rate from gastroenteritis?

  3-5 million people per year
• How does the mortality rate from gastroenteritis compare to pneumonia and malaria?

  Gastroenteritis has higher mortality than pneumonia
• What are some common bacterial agents causing gastrointestinal illness?

  Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter
• What are some common viral agents causing gastroenteritis?

  Adenovirus, Astrovirus, Rotavirus, Norovirus
• What is the definition of viral gastroenteritis?

  Inflammation of the stomach and intestines
• Why is the term 'stomach flu' considered a misnomer?

  It does not involve the flu virus
• What is a major complication of gastroenteritis?

  Dehydration
• How do gastroenteritis viruses typically spread?

  Via the oral-faecal route
• What is required for a virus to be classified as a gastroenteritis virus?

  Gut must be both entry and target tissue
• What is the primary method of transmission for gastroenteritis viruses?

  Oral-faecal route
• What factors contribute to the transmission of gastroenteritis viruses?

  Poor hygiene and sanitation
• What is the best treatment for gastroenteritis?

  Rehydration
• How many viral particles are needed to cause infection?

  10-100 viral particles
• Why are gastroenteritis viruses rarely detectable in food?

  Most food contaminations identified retrospectively
• What is the best approach to prevent gastroenteritis infections?

  HACCP guidelines for food safety
• What are the characteristics of Rotaviruses?

  • Non-enveloped, dsRNA viruses
  • 70nm icosahedral shape
  • Protected by 3 protein capsid layers
  • Known as 'hit-and-run' viruses
• What is the genome size of Rotavirus?

  18 kB dsRNA genome
• What is the role of proteolytic cleavage of VP4?

  Key determinant of virus tropism
• How does dsRNA act as a PAMP?

  It triggers host inflammatory response
• Where does Rotavirus infect in the intestine?

  Tips of the microvilli
• What is the most effective treatment for Rotavirus infection?

  Rehydration therapy
• What is the primary target group for Rotavirus infections?

  Children
• What is the burden of Rotavirus in developing countries?

  1 million deaths per year
• What is the role of maternal passive immunity in Rotavirus infections?

  Protects infants for a few months
• What are the live attenuated vaccines for Rotavirus?

  RotaTeq and Rotarix
• What is the cost per dose of RotaTeq vaccine?

  £25 per dose
• What is the cost per dose of Rotarix vaccine?

  £35 per dose
• What is the primary cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis?

  Noroviruses
• What percentage of gastroenteritis cases in the UK are caused by Noroviruses?

  ~45%
• What is the implication of Norovirus's high transmissibility?

  Impacts child care and hospital settings
• What is the seasonality of Norovirus infections?

  Marked in winter months
• What is the recommended action after Norovirus symptoms stop?

  Stay at home for 48 hours
• What family do Noroviruses belong to?

  Caliciviridae family
• What are the open-reading frames in Noroviruses?

  3 open-reading frames for proteins
• What is the primary route of transmission for Noroviruses?

  Oral-faecal route
• What are the symptoms of Norovirus infection?

  Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain