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Roles of Sialyl Glycans in HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 Infections

Nongluk Sriwilaijaroen1,2, Yasuo Suzuki3

  • 1Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|September 29, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Coronaviruses like common cold, MERS, and COVID-19 use sialyl receptors for infection. Understanding these sialyl glycan roles is key to fighting these viruses.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Glycobiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Coronaviruses (CoVs) such as HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 cause significant human diseases.
  • These viruses utilize host cell surface sialyl glycans as attachment receptors.
  • Understanding the specific roles of sialyl glycans in CoV infection is crucial for developing effective countermeasures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on the function of sialyl glycans in infections caused by common cold CoVs (HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1), MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2.
  • To identify similarities and differences in the roles of sialyl glycans across different CoV species and infection stages.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on CoV-sialyl glycan interactions.
  • Comparative analysis of viral attachment mechanisms involving spike (S) and hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) glycoproteins.
  • Examination of distinct infection stages influenced by sialyl glycans.

Main Results:

  • Seasonal CoVs (HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1) and pandemic CoVs (SARS-CoV-2) employ S glycoproteins to bind sialyl receptors.
  • HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1 also utilize HE glycoproteins for attachment.
  • Knowledge gaps exist regarding the zoonotic origins of HCoV-HKU1 and SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusions:

  • Sialyl glycans play critical roles in the pathogenesis and transmission of various human coronaviruses.
  • Comparing the roles of sialyl glycans in different CoVs can enhance understanding of viral mechanisms.
  • This knowledge is essential for developing strategies to combat CoV infections that rely on sialyl glycan recognition.
Keywords:
9-O-acetylated sialic acidCOVID-19CoronavirusHCoV-HKU1HCoV-OC43MERS-CoVReceptor-binding specificitySARS-CoV-2Sialic acid

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