# Structural mapping of an immunodominant antigenic site on the norovirus capsid

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ · 2024 · $195,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Noroviruses are a top cause of acute gastroenteritis globally, and no approved norovirus vaccine exists. The
norovirus capsid protein plays key roles in virus attachment and entry into host cells and is the target of
neutralizing antibodies. Recent genomics and serological studies predict the presence of a new antigenic site,
named antigenic site G, and suggest that it became immunodominant during the emergence of the most recent
GII.4 norovirus variant outbreak, revealing a novel mechanism for virus evolution immune escape. However, the
molecular interactions of neutralizing antibodies targeting this immunodominant site on the norovirus capsid have
not been described. Our goal is to define the epitopes that are recognized by neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
targeting the immunodominant antigenic site G on the norovirus capsid and to directly visualize and map antibody
immunodominance in serum antibodies targeting past and current norovirus variants. Using an integrated
structural and biophysical approach, we will pursue two specific aims to (1) Define the epitopes of neutralizing
monoclonal antibodies targeting the norovirus capsid antigenic site G and (2) Directly visualize the chronological
shift in antibody immunodominance towards antigenic site G. Results obtained by this work will provide a
molecular roadmap for the development of novel norovirus vaccine immunogens that broadly protect against
norovirus infection and disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10998805
- **Project number:** 1R21AI180523-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ
- **Principal Investigator:** Rebecca Michelle DuBois
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $195,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-10 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10998805

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10998805, Structural mapping of an immunodominant antigenic site on the norovirus capsid (1R21AI180523-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10998805. Licensed CC0.

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