Receptor sialic acid-specific

Glycolipids are potential receptors also for influenza viruses (Suzuki et al., 1986 Herrler and Klenk, 1987). As discussed above, glycoproteins may function as alternative receptors. Cells that are resistant to infection by influenza C virus because of a lack of receptors, have been shown to become susceptible to infection if they are resialylated with 9-0-acetylated sialic acid (Szepanski et al., 1992). As the a2,6-sialyltransferase used attaches sialic acid specifically to oligosaccharides present on glycoproteins, the virus obviously used glycoprotein receptors to infect these cells. The same approach has been applied to influenza A virus. In this case, cells were pretreated with sialidase to inactivate endoge-... 

Paulson, J.C. Sadler, J.E. Hill, R.L. Restoration of specific myxovirus receptors to asialoerythrocytes by incorporation of sialic acid with pure sialyltransferases. 

The ability of viruses to infect specific cell types is dictated in part by the ability of these viruses to bind to particular structures or receptors on the surfaces of cells. In some cases, these receptors are carbohydrates. For example, influenza virus recognizes sialic acid residues present on cell-surface glycoproteins. The viral protein that binds to these sugars is called hemasslutinin(Fisure 11.31). 

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