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ICAM-1 receptors and cold viruses
1School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK. jordi.bella@man.ac.uk
Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetiae
|May 17, 2000
Summary
Human rhinoviruses (HRVs), a leading cause of colds, use intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) to infect cells. This interaction facilitates viral RNA delivery into the host cell cytoplasm for replication.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the primary cause of the common cold.
- HRVs are small viruses with an icosahedral protein shell containing a positive RNA strand.
- Viral replication occurs in the host cell cytoplasm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms of HRV infection.
- To understand the role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in HRV entry.
- To analyze receptor recognition and binding specificity between HRVs and ICAM-1.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of crystal structures of HRVs and ICAM-1 fragments.
- Electron microscopy reconstructions of HRV-ICAM-1 complexes.
- Development of molecular models to study virus-receptor interactions.
Main Results:
- Ninety percent of HRVs utilize ICAM-1 as their cellular receptor.
- ICAM-1 binding positions the virus for membrane penetration.
- ICAM-1 triggers conformational changes leading to viral RNA release into the cytoplasm.
Conclusions:
- ICAM-1 is crucial for HRV attachment and entry.
- Molecular models provide insights into HRV receptor recognition and uncoating mechanisms.
- Understanding this interaction can inform strategies against HRV infections.