title: Induction of cell-cell fusion from without by human herpesvirus 6B.
abstract: Human herpesvirus (HHV) 6A induce fusion from without (FFWO), whereas HHV-6B is believed to be ineffective in this process. Here, we demonstrate that HHV-6B induces rapid fusion in both epithelial cells and lymphocytes. The fusion was identified 1 h postinfection, could be inhibited by antibodies to HHV-6B gH and to the cellular receptor CD46, and was dependent on virus titer but independent of de novo protein synthesis and UV inactivation of the virus. Comparisons indicate that HHV-6A is only 10-fold more effective in inducing FFWO than HHV-6B. These data demonstrate that HHV-6B can induce FFWO in epithelial cells and lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Bartholin Building, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Simon Metz
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oster
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bundgaard
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Höllsberg
mesh_terms: D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C070917:glycoprotein H, herpesvirus 6