A new cell receptor for rhinovirus

Rhinovirus is the most frequent cause of the common cold, and the virus itself is quite common: there are over 160 types, classified into 3 species. The cell receptor has just been identified for the rhinovirus C species, which can cause more severe illness than members of the A or B species: it is cadherin-related family member 3. Because viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, the genome must enter a cell before new particles can be made. The first step in this process is binding of the virus particle to a receptor on the plasma membrane. Two different membrane proteins serve as receptors for members of rhinovirus A and B species: intracellular adhesion molecule 1, and low-density lipoprotein receptor (illustrated). It has not been possible to propagate species C rhinoviruses in conventional cell cultures, which has hampered research on how the virus replicates. The lack of a cell culture system required a different approach to identifying a cell receptor for this virus. It was known that the virus replicates in primary organ or cell cultures derived from sinus tissue, but not in a variety of epithelial and transformed cell lines (e.g. HeLa cells). In silico comparison of gene expression profiles revealed 400 genes that are preferentially expressed in virus-susceptible cells. This list was narrowed down to 12 genes that encode plasma membrane proteins. A subset of these genes were introduced into cells and tested for the ability to serve as a rhinovirus C receptor...
Source: virology blog - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Basic virology Information asthma C species rhinovirus cadherin-related family member 3 CDHR3 cell receptor HRV-C picornavirus respiratory infection viral wheezing Source Type: blogs