Avid Bioservices Inc (CDMO)

[biopharm]

Phosphatidylserine receptors: enhancers of enveloped virus entry and infection.

Sep 29, 2014

Moller-Tank S1, Maury W2.
Author information

1Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
2Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Electronic address: [e-mail].

Abstract

A variety of both RNA and DNA viruses envelop their capsids in a lipid bilayer. One of the more recently appreciated benefits this envelope is incorporation of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer). Surface exposure of PtdSer disguises viruses as apoptotic bodies; tricking cells into engulfing virions. This mechanism is termed apoptotic mimicry. Several PtdSer receptors have been identified to enhance virus entry and we have termed this group of proteins PtdSer-mediated virus entry enhancing receptors or PVEERs. These receptors enhance entry of a range of enveloped viruses. Internalization of virions by PVEERs provides a broad mechanism of entry with little investment by the virus itself. PVEERs may allow some viruses to attach to cells, thereby making viral glycoprotein/cellular receptor interactions more probable. Alternatively, other viruses may rely entirely on PVEERs for internalization into endosomes. This review provides an overview of PtdSer receptors that serve as PVEERs and the biology behind virion/PVEER interaction.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25277499

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