title: Electrostatic interactions in the early events of VSV infection.
abstract: The importance of electrostatic interactions in the early phases of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection has been investigated in susceptible cells of different origin, human (HeLa) and avian (CER), by using some polyanions (heparin, polygalacturonic acid and mucin) and polycations (polymyxin B sulphate, poly-L-lysine, protamine, histone and polybrene). In HeLa cells, the attachment of VSV was enhanced by polymers having a positive charge and inhibited by those having a negative charge. In CER cells, all the polyanions tested reduced virus infection. Among the polycations, histone, polymyxin B sulphate and poly-L-lysine enhanced virus plaque formation while protamine and polybrene reduced virus attachment. The effect of polyions on VSV particles and on cell membrane receptors has also been investigated. The analysis of the results obtained suggest that, although electrostatic interactions play an essential role in the binding of VSV to the cell membrane, more specific structural features appear to be required for viral attachment to occur.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Rome, La Sapienza.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mastromarino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riccioli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Orsi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000838:Anions / Q000494:pharmacology; D002412:Cations / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D006367:HeLa Cells; D019763:Heparin Lyase; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011112:Polymyxin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D002412:Cations; D011108:Polymers; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases; D019763:Heparin Lyase; D011112:Polymyxin B