[Gangliosides--specific receptors for the influenza virus]

The capacity of two gangliosides, GD1a and GT1b isolated from bovine brain to function as specific receptors of influenza virus was determined. A primary chick fibroblast culture was treated with neuraminidase to destroy natural receptors, the cells were loaded with gangliosides GD1a and GT1b, inoculated with 3H-uridine-labeled virus, and virus adsorption and penetration into the cell nucleus were determined. Both gangliosides were shown to restore virus adsorption to the cell surface and penetration of viral structures into the cell, GT1b facilitating more effective transportation of viral structures into the nuclei than GD1a and inducing penetration into the nuclei nearly 1.5-fold as much amount of viral structures as in native cells. The same ganglioside partially restored virus-induced hemolysis upon loading it on erythrocytes pre-treated with neuraminidase. It is concluded that ganglioside GT1b is a specific receptor for influenza virus. 3.9% of this ganglioside was found in chick fibroblast lipids.