Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Vaccinia Reporter Viruses for Quantifying Viral Function at All Stages of Gene Expression
Published on: May 15, 2014
Role of sulfatide in vaccinia virus infection
Julien Perino1, Chwan Hong Foo, Daniele Spehner
1Laboratoire de Virologie, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées-Antenne du Centre de Recherches du Service de Santé des Armées, 38702 La Tronche Cedex, France.
Background Information:
Vaccinia virus (VACV) was used as a surrogate of variola virus (genus Orthopoxvirus), the causative agent of smallpox, to study orthopoxvirus infection. VACV infects cells via attachment and fusion of the viral membrane with the host cell membrane. Glycosphingolipids, expressed in multiple organs, are major components of lipid rafts and have been associated with the infectious route of several pathogens.
Results:
We demonstrate that the VACV-WR (VACV Western-Reserve strain) displays no binding to Cer (ceramide) or to Gal-Cer (galactosylceramide), but binds to a natural sulfated derivative of these molecules: the Sulf (sulfatide) 3' sulfogalactosylceramide. The interaction between Sulf and VACV-WR resulted in a time-dependent inhibition of virus infection. Virus cell attachment was the crucial step inhibited by Sulf. Electron microscopy showed that SUVs (small unilamellar vesicles) enriched in Sulf bound to VACV particles. Both the A27 and L5 viral membrane proteins were shown to interact with Sulf, indicating that they could be the major viral ligands for Sulf. Soluble Sulf was successful in preventing mortality, but not morbidity, in a lethal mouse model infection with VACV-WR.
Conclusions:
Together the results suggest that Sulf could play a role as an alternate receptor for VACV-WR and probably other Orthopoxviruses.
Related Concept Videos
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
Smallpox
Vaccinations
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Chickenpox

