Propagation of astrovirus VA1, a neurotropic human astrovirus, in cell culture

Andrew B. Janowski, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Irma K. Bauer, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Lori R. Holtz, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
David Wang, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Abstract

Astrovirus VA1/HMO-C (VA1; mamastrovirus 9) is a recently discovered astrovirus genotype that is divergent from the classic human astroviruses (mamastrovirus 1). The gastrointestinal tract is presumed to be the primary site of infection and pathogenicity for astroviruses. However, VA1 has been independently detected in brain tissue of five cases of human encephalitis. Studies of the pathogenicity of VA1 are currently impossible because there are no reported cell culture systems or