MOLECULAR DETERMINANTS OF IMMUNITY AND PATHOGENICITY OF ROTAVIRUS INFECTION IN THE MOUSE MODEL

Rotavirus-induced diarrhea is responsible for the death of similar to 800,000 children per year. Jennerian and modified Jennerian anti-rotav irus vaccines currently being tested have a moderate protective effect against rotavirus disease. Optimization of these vaccines, developmen t of more efficient rationally designed vaccines, and identification o f other strategies to prevent or treat rotavirus disease will rely on a thorough understanding of the host-virus relationship and especially on the immune mechanisms developed by the host against rotavirus. Rec ent advances in our understanding of the mouse model of rotavirus infe ction will enhance the understanding of human rotavirus disease.