Atomic force microscopy at the forefront: unveiling foodborne viruses with biophysical tools

Foodborne viruses are significant public health threats, capable of causing life-threatening infections and posing major risks for future pandemics. However, the development of vaccines and treatments remains limited due to gaps in understanding their biophysical properties. Among these viruses, noroviruses are currently the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis globally and are responsible for numerous foodborne outbreaks. In this review, we explore the use of biophysical methods, with a focus on atomic force microscopy (AFM), to study foodborne viruses. We demonstrate how AFM can provide crucial insights into virus-host interactions, transmission dynamics, and environmental stability. We also show that the integration of various biophysical approaches offers new opportunities for advancing our understanding of foodborne viruses, ultimately guiding the development of effective prevention strategies and antiviral therapies.