What makes a virus an intestinal pathogen?

Enteric viruses are the commonest causes of gastroenteritis worldwide. There are several virus families that cause human enteric diseases, resulting in severe diarrhoea with various potential complications, including spread to the central nervous system. Despite decades of research, it is still poorly understood why these viruses replicate particularly in the gastrointestinal tract and what triggers virus dissemination beyond the gut. I will address these questions using a range of cutting-edge molecular virology and human organoid techniques. I will investigate one of the least studied, but nonetheless highly prevalent and often underdiagnosed groups of human RNA viruses - the astroviruses. The group includes recently emerged strains that are neuropathogenic in children, elderly and the immunocompromised. My work will elucidate the fundamental molecular biology of astroviruses, contributing vital knowledge that will underpin an improved understanding of their pathogenesis and the development of effective vaccines and antiviral therapies.