5vx4

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Rotaviruses (RVs) cause life-threatening diarrhea in infants and children worldwide. Recent biochemical and epidemiological studies underscore the importance of histo-blood group antigens (HBGA) as both cell attachment and susceptibility factors for the globally dominant P[4], P[6], and P[8] genotypes of human RVs. How these genotypes interact with HBGA is not known. Here, our crystal structures of P[4] and a neonate-specific P[6] VP8*s alone and in complex with H-type I HBGA reveal a unique glycan binding site that is conserved in the globally dominant genotypes and allows for the binding of ABH HBGAs, consistent with their prevalence. Remarkably, the VP8* of P[6] RVs isolated from neonates displays subtle structural changes in this binding site that may restrict its ability to bind branched glycans. This provides a structural basis for the age-restricted tropism of some P[6] RVs as developmentally regulated unbranched glycans are more abundant in the neonatal gut.

Glycan recognition in globally dominant human rotaviruses.,Hu L, Sankaran B, Laucirica DR, Patil K, Salmen W, Ferreon ACM, Tsoi PS, Lasanajak Y, Smith DF, Ramani S, Atmar RL, Estes MK, Ferreon JC, Prasad BVV Nat Commun. 2018 Jul 6;9(1):2631. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05098-4. PMID:29980685^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.