Creative Diagnostics has launched the Norovirus VP1 VLP Panel, a new research tool designed to support the study of norovirus (NoV), the major cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide.

The panel includes 14 different virus-like particles (VLPs) from various genotypes and genogroups, essential for understanding NoV biology and developing countermeasures.

The illness is extremely contagious and found in contaminated water, food, or surfaces. It is transmitted via the faecal-oral route.

This virus leads to quick acute gastroenteritis, characterised by symptoms such as abdominal cramps, watery diarrhoea, and vomiting.

It has been subdivided into ten different genomes, with only three known to infect humans. The virus protein 1 (VP1), a critical component in the immune response and receptor binding, is a major target for antigen discovery and vaccine development.

The panel is said to aid researchers by providing a wide spectrum of NoV diversity for investigation.

Each protein in the panel is available at 50μg, with the option to purchase individual serotype-specific VP1 proteins in 0.5mg quantities.

Produced using a baculovirus expression system, the NoV recombinant proteins in the panel closely look similar to their natural counterparts.

Creative Diagnostics ensures the authenticity of the products by avoiding the introduction of foreign sequences. The proteins undergo purification by caesium chloride density gradient centrifugation to obtain “high purity”, and their morphology is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy.

This panel is part of the company’s growing portfolio of products designed to advance infectious disease research.

Creative Diagnostics manufactures and supplies viral antigens, antibodies and diagnostic components. It also offers biologic manufacturing and contract research and development (R&D) services.