NORWALK AND RELATED VIRUSES

Norwalk and related viruses have been known for some time to be a major cause of acute adult gastroenteritis. However, despite their obvious significance, our inability to grow these viruses in the laboratory has severely hindered their study. Recent advances in molecular technology have largely removed this stumbling block. Provision of a limitless supply of reagents has allowed the re-evaluation of the epidemiology of these viruses and finally opened the way to unified research efforts. Molecular studies have revealed a close relationship with other viruses and enabled the classification of the Norwalk-like agents in the Caliciviridae virus family.