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Sialic acids as receptor determinants for coronaviruses
Christel Schwegmann-Wessels1, Georg Herrler
1Institut für Virologie, Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Glycoconjugate Journal
|April 1, 2006
Summary
Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) uses sialic acids for infection, similar to influenza C viruses. Porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) interacts with different sialic acids and may be an ancestor of BCoV.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Glycobiology
Background:
- Coronaviruses exhibit diverse interactions with sialic acids.
- Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) requires N-acetyl-9- O-acetylneuraminic acid for infection.
- Porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) recognizes N-glycolylneuraminic acid.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of sialic acid interactions in coronavirus infections.
- To compare the sialic acid binding properties of BCoV and TGEV.
- To explore the evolutionary relationship between BCoV and TGEV.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of viral binding to specific sialic acid variants.
- Comparison of viral enzyme activities (acetylesterase).
- Inference of evolutionary pathways based on genetic and functional data.
Main Results:
- BCoV utilizes N-acetyl-9- O-acetylneuraminic acid and possesses an acetylesterase, similar to influenza C viruses.
- TGEV binds N-glycolylneuraminic acid, lacks an acetylesterase, and requires sialic acid binding for enteropathogenicity.
- BCoV may have evolved from a TGEV-like ancestor via horizontal gene transfer of an acetylesterase gene.
Conclusions:
- Sialic acid interactions are critical for the infectivity and pathogenesis of different coronaviruses.
- The presence of acetylesterase in BCoV facilitates viral spread by modifying host cell receptors.
- Evolutionary analysis suggests a potential TGEV-like origin for BCoV through acquiring an acetylesterase gene.