title: ESR and NMR studies provide evidence that phosphatidyl glycerol specifically interacts with poxvirus membranes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The lung would be the first organ targeted in case of the use of Variola virus (the causative agent of smallpox) as a bioweapon. Pulmonary surfactant composed of lipids (90%) and proteins (10%) is considered the major physiological barrier against airborne pathogens. The principle phospholipid components of lung surfactant were examined in an in vitro model to characterize their interactions with VACV, a surrogate for variola virus. One of them, Dipalmitoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG), was recently shown to inhibit VACV cell infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The interactions of poxvirus particles from the Western Reserve strain (VACV-WR) and the Lister strain (VACV-List) with model membranes for pulmonary surfactant phospholipids, in particular DPPG, were studied by Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR). ESR experiments showed that DPPG exhibits specific interactions with both viruses, while NMR experiments allowed us to deduce its stoichiometry and to propose a model for the mechanism of interaction at the molecular level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm the ability of DPPG to strongly bind to VACV and suggest that similar interactions occur with variola virus. Similar studies of the interactions between lipids and other airborne pathogens are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Unité de biophysique cellulaire et moléculaire, CRSSA-IRBA, 24 avenue des maquis du Grésivaudan, 38702 La Tronche cedex, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Debouzy
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crouzier
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Favier
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes; C030345:1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol