Investigating virus-glycan interactions using glycan microarrays

Curr Opin Virol. 2014 Aug:7:79-87. doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2014.05.005. Epub 2014 Jul 1.

Abstract

While all viruses must transit the plasma membrane of mammalian cells to initiate infection, we know little about the complex processes involved in viral attachment, which commonly involve recognition of glycans by viral proteins. Glycan microarrays derived from both synthetic glycans and natural glycans isolated through shotgun glycomics approaches provide novel platforms for interrogating diverse glycans as potential viral receptors. Recent studies with influenza and rotaviruses using such glycan microarrays provide examples of their utility in exploring the challenging questions raised in efforts to define the complex mechanistic protein-glycan interactions that regulate virus attachment to host cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Glycomics
  • Humans
  • Influenza, Human / metabolism*
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Microarray Analysis*
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Virus / chemistry
  • Receptors, Virus / metabolism*
  • Rotavirus / genetics
  • Rotavirus / metabolism*
  • Rotavirus Infections / metabolism*
  • Rotavirus Infections / virology

Substances

  • Polysaccharides
  • Receptors, Virus