Preparation of erythrocyte receptors for viruses by affinity chromatography

A comparatively simple method for the purification of human erythrocyte receptors for encephalomyocarditis and influenza viruses is described. The procedure utilises the fact that these viruses share in common the erythrocyte receptor for wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), which enables commercially available WGA-Sepharose to be used in the purification of receptors for these viruses by affinity chromatography. Conditions are also described for introducing either 125I into the receptor in situ, or 3H-acetyl residues into the solubilised receptor.