Rotavirus protein NSP4 manipulates calcium signaling, affecting disease outcomes

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions have improved our understanding of how rotavirus, the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children, makes people sick. The study published in Science Advances is among the first to show that the rotavirus protein NSP4 is both necessary and sufficient for multiple aspects of rotavirus infection by disrupting calcium signaling not only within infected cells but also in nearby uninfected cells. These disruptions in calcium signaling affect rotavirus disease severity, providing new insights into how NSP4’s function influences rotavirus virulence. The findings suggest that manipulating NSP4 could lead to new strategies to prevent or treat rotavirus infections.