Study of receptors for vesicular stomatitis virus in vertebrate and invertebrate cells

Early interactions between vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and susceptible cells were examined in cell lines of mammalian (HeLa), bird (CER), piscine (EPC) and arthropod (Aedes albopictus) origin showing different permissiveness to VSV growth. The chemical nature of receptors was investigated either by modification of cell surfaces with different enzymes or by competition for VSV binding between extracted membrane components and whole cells. Results obtained indicate that in all cell models, membrane lipid components show receptor activity whereas glycid groups participate to the in virus binding to a different extent.