Organizing the interface-Plasma membrane architecture and receptor dynamics in virus-cell interactions

Plasma membranes are organized into dynamic nanoscale domains that regulate lipid and protein distribution, diffusion, and receptor availability. Because viruses act on similar length scales, this organization shapes early infection steps, including attachment, membrane exploration, receptor engagement, and entry. This review summarizes how pre-existing receptor nanoplatforms promote viral capture and how virus binding can remodel plasma membrane nanoarchitecture. Using influenza A virus and human immunodeficiency virus 1 as examples, we discuss how multivalent, low-affinity glycoprotein-glycan interactions exploit clustered attachment factors to increase avidity and tune receptor dynamics. We also address transbilayer lipid asymmetry and how its perturbation-particularly phosphatidylserine exposure and apoptotic mimicry-is exploited by enveloped viruses.