Bovine coronavirus uses N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid as a receptor determinant to initiate the infection of cultured cells.

Abstract

The importance of N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) as a receptor determinant for bovine coronavirus (BCV) on cultured cells was analysed. Pretreatment of MDCK I (Madin Darby canine kidney) cells with neuraminidase or acetylesterase rendered the cells resistant to infection by BCV. The receptors on a human (CaCo-2) and a porcine (LLC-PK1) epithelial cell line were also found to be sensitive to neuraminidase treatment. The susceptibility to infection by BCV was restored after resialylation of asialo-MDCK I cells with Neu5,9Ac2. Transfer of sialic acid lacking a 9-O-acetyl group was ineffective in this respect. These results demonstrate that 9-O-acetylated sialic acid is used as a receptor determinant by BCV to infect cultured cells. The possibility is discussed that the initiation of a BCV infection involves the recognition of different types of receptors, a first receptor for primary attachment and a second receptor to mediate the fusion between the viral envelope and the cellular membrane.

• Authors: B Schultze, G Herrler
• Journal: The Journal of general virology (J Gen Virol) Vol. 73 ( Pt 4) Pg. 901-6 (Apr 1992) ISSN: 0022-1317 [Print] England
• PMID: 1321878 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Sialic Acids
• 9-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid
• Acetylesterase
• Neuraminidase
• N-Acetylneuraminic Acid

Topics

• Acetylesterase (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Binding Sites
• Cattle (microbiology)
• Cell Membrane (drug effects)
• Cells, Cultured
• Coronaviridae (metabolism, pathogenicity)
• Coronaviridae Infections (metabolism)
• N-Acetylneuraminic Acid
• Neuraminidase (pharmacology)
• Sialic Acids (chemistry, metabolism)
• Species Specificity