Aiding and abetting norovirus disease Norovirus is highly infectious and usually causes transient, acute disease. In some individuals, norovirus persists and is associated with inflammatory bowel disorders. While investigating the cell tropism for murine norovirus, Wilen et al. discovered that a rare cell type, tuft cells, carrying the CD300lf receptor were the virus's specific target. Tuft cells proliferate in response to the type 2 cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-25, which thereby amplify norovirus infection. Moreover, infected tuft cells are resistant to immune clearance. This effect may explain the associated persistent disease symptoms that humans can suffer. Science , this issue p. 204

Tropism for tuft cells determines immune promotion of norovirus pathogenesis