Recent Advances in Biosensor Development for Foodborne Virus Detection

Neethirajan, Suresh; Ahmed, Syed Rahin; Chand, Rohit; Buozis, John; Nagy, Éva

Norovirus is an RNA virus in the family Caliciviridae causing more than 90% of non-bacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks in the United States [10] . They can be classified as five genotypes from GI to GV based on the nucleotide sequences of the capsid protein and polymerase. A total of eight genotypes out of 29 known genotypes of norovirus cause infection in humans. According to the U. S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), noroviruses are responsible for 70% and 50% of waterborne and foodborne enteritis, respectively [11] . The symptoms of foodborne norovirus include vomiting, gastralgia, fever, diarrhea, and death due to dehydration in children and elderly. Norovirus is very stable in the environment and highly contagious, requiring only a low infectious dose, as doses smaller than 10 2 copies/mL may cause infection in humans [12] . The virus strongly resists heat up to 60°C, as well as acid and chlorine in tap water up to 6.25 mg/L, which make its prevention and clearance difficult. Norovirus is transmitted through daily activities, water, and food. Contaminated food by food handlers is an important transmission route. The virus causes 19-21 million illness in the United States annually [13] . It is reported that 50% of the infection occurs in food related locations, such as cruise ships, school cafeterias, and restaurants [11] . Hence the detection of foodborne norovirus is critically important for human health.