Murine norovirus, currently the only norovirus that replicates efficiently in tissue culture, has offered scientists the first chance to study the entire norovirus life cycle in the laboratory. In addition, the development of reverse genetics for murine norovirus has provided the ideal opportunity for researchers to determine how variation at the genetic level affects pathogenicity in the natural host. Despite differences in the diseases caused by human and murine noroviruses, they possess a significant amount of genetic similarity; hence the general mechanisms of viral genome translation and replication are likely to be highly conserved.
Further reading:
Caliciviruses: Molecular and Cellular VirologyLabels: Caliciviridae, Caliciviruses, Norovirus