Carbohydrates in herpesvirus infections

Carbohydrate structures constitute important factors in the pathogenesis of herpesvirus infections for three reasons: (i) Human herpesviruses specify several biologically active glycoproteins, where co-translational addition of carbohydrate units is essential for generation of functioning viral glycoproteins. (ii) Cellular carbohydrate structures are parts of the cellular receptor complex at least for some herpes-viruses. (iii) Peripheral carbohydrate structures are engaged in modulation of the immunological properties of herpesvirus glycoproteins. The present review will consider all these three aspects mainly for HSV-1 glycobiology, which has been most fully investigated so far. Due to the many structural similarities between glycoproteins from different human herpesviruses, many of the conclusions should also be applicable for other human herpesviruses.