Identification of potential inhibitors of coronavirus hemagglutinin-esterase using molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation.

The pandemic outbreak of the Corona viral infection has become a critical global health issue. Biophysical and structural evidence shows that spike protein possesses a high binding affinity towards host angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and viral hemagglutinin-acetylesterase (HE) glycoprotein receptor. We selected HE as a target in this study to identify potential inhibitors using a combination of various computational approaches such as molecular docking, ADMET analysis, dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations. Virtual screening of NPACT compounds identified 3,4,5-Trihydroxy-1,8-bis[(2R,3R)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-2-yl]benzo[7]annulen-6-one, Silymarin, Withanolide D, Spirosolane and Oridonin as potential HE inhibitors with better binding energy. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations for 100 ns time scale revealed that most of the key HE contacts were retained throughout the simulations trajectories. Binding free energy calculations using MM/PBSA approach ranked the top-five potential NPACT compounds which can act as effective HE inhibitors.

The inducible amphisome isolates viral hemagglutinin and defends against influenza A virus infection.

The emergence of drug-resistant influenza type A viruses (IAVs) necessitates the development of novel anti-IAV agents. Here, we target the IAV hemagglutinin (HA) protein using multivalent peptide library screens and identify PVF-tet, a peptide-based HA inhibitor. PVF-tet inhibits IAV cytopathicity and propagation in cells by binding to newly synthesized HA, rather than to the HA of the parental virus, thus inducing the accumulation of HA within a unique structure, the inducible amphisome, whose production from the autophagosome is accelerated by PVF-tet. The amphisome is also produced in response to IAV infection in the absence of PVF-tet by cells overexpressing ABC transporter subfamily A3, which plays an essential role in the maturation of multivesicular endosomes into the lamellar body, a lipid-sorting organelle. Our results show that the inducible amphisomes can function as a type of organelle-based anti-viral machinery by sequestering HA. PVF-tet efficiently rescues mice from the lethality of IAV infection.

Aloe vera and its Components Inhibit Influenza A Virus-Induced Autophagy and Replication.

Aloe vera ethanol extract (AVE) reportedly has significant anti-influenza virus activity, but its underlying mechanisms of action and constituents have not yet been completely elucidated. Previously, we have confirmed that AVE treatment significantly reduces the viral replication of green fluorescent protein-labeled influenza A virus in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. In addition, post-treatment with AVE inhibited viral matrix protein 1 (M1), matrix protein 2 (M2), and hemagglutinin (HA) mRNA synthesis and viral protein (M1, M2, and HA) expressions. In this study, we demonstrated that AVE inhibited autophagy induced by influenza A virus in MDCK cells and also identified quercetin, catechin hydrate, and kaempferol as the active antiviral components of AVE. We also found that post-treatment with quercetin, catechin hydrate, and kaempferol markedly inhibited M2 viral mRNA synthesis and M2 protein expression. A docking simulation suggested that the binding affinity of quercetin, catechin hydrate, and kaempferol for the M2 protein may be higher than that of known M2 protein inhibitors. Thus, the inhibition of autophagy induced by influenza virus may explain the antiviral activity of AVE against H1N1 or H3N2. Aloe vera extract and its constituents may, therefore, be potentially useful for the development of anti-influenza agents.

In situ gelling nasal inserts for influenza vaccine delivery.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of rapidly gelling nasal inserts as vaccine delivery system. METHODS: Nasal inserts were prepared by freeze-drying hydrophilic polymer solutions containing influenza split vaccine. In vitro vaccine release from polymer solutions and inserts and the vaccine hemagglutination activity were determined. In vivo immunization studies in mice and rats were performed with nasal solutions and nasal inserts. RESULTS: The in vitro release of proteins (vaccine) from polymeric solutions and inserts was incomplete because of the high molecular weight of the proteins. The release rate was controlled by the polymer (Lutrol F68 > PVP 90 > HPMC K15M > Carbopol > chitosan > or = carrageenan = xanthan gum) because of differences in solution viscosity and possible polymer-protein interactions. Xanthan gum, a negatively charged polymer with intrinsic adjuvanticity, enhanced the serum IgG as well as the nasal IgA response in in vivo studies with nasal vaccine solutions. Poly-l-arginine and cationic lipid were the best performing adjuvants. Solutions containing vaccine with xanthan gum and cationic lipid were effectively stabilized with 0.4 M NaCl. DISCUSSION: The specific activity of the major vaccine protein, hemagglutinin, was not significantly affected by the addition of polymers and the freeze-drying process during insert preparation. The addition of cationic lipid as adjuvant decreased the hemagglutination activity, which strongly indicated inhibition of the protein binding site to erythrocytes. Inserts prepared from xanthan gum and cationic lipid stabilized with NaCl showed a reduced protein activity but were superior to the cationic lipid alone. CONCLUSION: Rat immunization with solid nasal inserts based on xanthan gum containing the influenza vaccine, with or without an additional cationic lipid adjuvant, resulted in similar IgG levels as the pure nasal liquid vaccine formulation.

Identification and characterisation of a novel anti-viral peptide against avian influenza virus H9N2.

BACKGROUND: Avian influenza viruses (AIV) cause high morbidity and mortality among the poultry worldwide. Their highly mutative nature often results in the emergence of drug resistant strains, which have the potential of causing a pandemic. The virus has two immunologically important glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), and one ion channel protein M2 which are the most important targets for drug discovery, on its surface. In order to identify a peptide-based virus inhibitor against any of these surface proteins, a disulfide constrained heptapeptide phage display library was biopanned against purified AIV sub-type H9N2 virus particles. RESULTS: After four rounds of panning, four different fusion phages were identified. Among the four, the phage displaying the peptide NDFRSKT possessed good anti-viral properties in vitro and in ovo. Further, this peptide inhibited the hemagglutination activity of the viruses but showed very little and no effect on neuraminidase and hemolytic activities respectively. The phage-antibody competition assay proved that the peptide competed with anti-influenza H9N2 antibodies for the binding sites. Based on yeast two-hybrid assay, we observed that the peptide inhibited the viral replication by interacting with the HA protein and this observation was further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that we have successfully identified a novel antiviral peptide against avian influenza virus H9N2 which act by binding with the hemagglutination protein of the virus. The broad spectrum activity of the peptide molecule against various subtypes of the avian and human influenza viruses and its comparative efficiency against currently available anti-influenza drugs are yet to be explored.

In vitro evaluation of neuraminidase inhibitors using the neuraminidase-dependent release assay of hemagglutinin-pseudotyped viruses.

For the treatment of influenza virus infections, neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) that prevent the release of virus particles have been effective against most influenza strains. Several neuraminidase (NA) assays are available for the evaluation of NAIs. To understand the NAI functions under physiological conditions, assays mimicking viral particle release should be useful. We have constructed retrovirus-based reporter viruses that are pseudotyped with hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein by transfection of producer cells using plasmids expressing retroviral gag-pol, influenza HA, NA, and firefly luciferase genes. Similarly to the life cycle of influenza viruses, the release of pseudotype viruses also requires neuraminidase functions. This requirement was used to develop an assay to evaluate NAI activities by measuring inhibition of pseudotype virus production at different NAI concentrations. The pseudotype virus release assay was used to determine the IC(50) values of Oseltamivir carboxylate, Zanamivir, and the novel phosphonate congeners of Oseltamivir against N1 group neuraminidases and their H274Y Oseltamivir carboxylate-resistant mutants. The deduced IC(50) values obtained using the release assay correlated with those determined using the fluorogenic substrate 2'-(4-methylumbelliferyl)-alpha-d-N-acetylneuraminic acid (MUNANA) and also correlated with the infectivity results.

Neutralizing immunogenicity of transgenic carrot (Daucus carota L.)-derived measles virus hemagglutinin.

Although edible vaccines seem to be feasible, antigens of human pathogens have mostly been expressed in plants that are not attractive for human consumption (such as potatoes) unless they are cooked. Boiling may reduce the immunogenicity of many antigens. More recently, the technology to transform fruit and vegetable plants have become perfected. We transformed carrot plants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens to generate plants (which can be eaten raw) transgenic for an immunodominant antigen of the measles virus, a major pathogen in man. The hemagglutinin (H) glycoprotein is the principle target of neutralizing and protective antibodies against measles. Copy numbers of the H transgene were verified by Southern blot and specific transcription was confirmed by RT-PCR. The H protein was detected by western blot in the membrane fraction of transformed carrot plants. The recombinant protein seemed to have a 8% lower molecular weight than the viral protein. Although this suggests a different glycosylation pattern, proper folding of the transgenic protein was confirmed by conformational-dependent monoclonal antibodies. Immunization of mice with leaf or root extracts induced high titres of IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies that cross-reacted strongly with the measles virus and neutralized the virus in vitro. These results demonstrate that transgenic carrot plants can be used as an efficient expression system to produce highly immunogenic viral antigens. Our study may pave the way towards an edible vaccine against measles which could be complementary to the current live-attenuated vaccine.

Membrane perturbation and fusion pore formation in influenza hemagglutinin-mediated membrane fusion. A new model for fusion.

Low pH-induced fusion mediated by the hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus involves conformational changes in the protein that lead to the insertion of a "fusion peptide" domain of this protein into the target membrane and is thought to perturb the membrane, triggering fusion. By using whole virus, purified HA, or HA ectodomains, we found that shortly after insertion, pores of less than 26 A in diameter were formed in liposomal membranes. As measured by a novel assay, these pores stay open, or continue to close and open, for minutes to hours and persist after pH neutralization. With virus and purified HA, larger pores, allowing the leakage of dextrans, were seen at times well after insertion. For virus, dextran leakage was simultaneous with lipid mixing and the formation of "fusion pores," allowing the transfer of dextrans from the liposomal to the viral interior or vice versa. Pores did not form in the viral membrane in the absence of a target membrane. Based on these data, we propose a new model for fusion, in which HA initially forms a proteinaceous pore in the target, but not in the viral membrane, before a lipidic hemifusion intermediate is formed.

Suppression of influenza virus infection by an N-thioacetylneuraminic acid acrylamide copolymer resistant to neuraminidase.

We have previously shown that alpha-2-O-methyl-5-N-thioacetylneuraminic acid (alpha-Neu5thioAc2Me) has a higher affinity to bromelain-treated hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza A virus than sialic acid from natural sources (Machytka et al., 1993, FEBS Lett. 334, 117-120). We have now compared the inhibitory effects of alpha-Neu5thioAc2Me and other sialic acid analogs on receptor binding and plaque formation of intact influenza A viruses. When alpha-Neu5thioAc2Me was polymerized by conjugation to polyacrylamide, its affinity to HA increased 10(3)-fold. When analyzed by plaque reduction, the alpha-Neu5thioAc2 polymer was about 10 times more efficient as an inhibitor of virus replication than the alpha-Neu5Ac2 polymer, stressing the importance of sulfur at C5. The S-glycoside alpha-2-S-methyl-5-N-thioacetylneuraminic acid (alpha-Neu5thioAc2SMe) had the same affinity to HA as alpha-Neu5thioAc2Me, but was resistant to neuraminidase. The alpha-Neu5thioAc2S polymer interfered with the replication of a wider spectrum of influenza A virus subtypes than the alpha-Neu5thioAc2 polymer. The results indicate that the alpha-Neu5thioAc2S polymer has the potential to be used as an inhibitor of influenza virus infection.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of complexes between an influenza hemagglutinin and Fab fragments of two different monoclonal antibodies.

Fab fragments from two different monoclonal antibodies (BH151 and HC45) which bind to the same antigenic region of the influenza hemagglutinin were crystallized as complexes with the hemagglutinin. The complexes crystallize in PEG 600, pH 6.0, and PEG 2000, pH 8.5, respectively. Both crystals belong to space group P321, with very similar unit cell dimensions.

Interaction between influenza virus proteins and pine cone antitumor substance that inhibits the virus multiplication.

Fractions obtained from pine cone extract (PCE) of Pinus parviflora Sieb. et Zucc. have been shown to suppress the growth of influenza virus. The inhibitory effects of one of the fractions, Fraction VII, on the formation of RNA-viral protein complex and the viral RNA synthesis were investigated. The formation of M1-RNA or NP-RNA complex was inhibited when M1 or NP was preincubated with the PCE fraction. The in vitro viral RNA synthesis was inhibited by the PCE fraction, while this inhibitory effect was titrated out by the increasing concentration of M1 protein. These results suggest that the major target of the PCE fraction was M1 protein.

Chimeric green fluorescent protein as a tool for visualizing subcellular organelles in living cells.

BACKGROUND: It has recently been demonstrated that the green fluorescent protein (GFP) of the jellyfish Aequorea victoria retains its fluorescent properties when recombinantly expressed in both prokaryotic (Escherichia coli) and eukaryotic (Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster) living cells; it can therefore be used as a powerful marker of gene expression in vivo. The specific targeting of recombinant GFP within cells would allow it to be used for even more applications, but no information is yet available on the possibility of targeting GFP to intracellular organelles. RESULTS: In this study, we show that the GFP cDNA can be expressed at high levels in cultured mammalian cells; the recombinant polypeptide is highly fluorescent and is exclusively localized in the cytosol. Furthermore, we have modified the GFP cDNA to include a mitochondrial targeting sequence (and a strong immunological epitope at the amino terminus of the encoded polypeptide). When transiently transfected into mammalian cells, this construct drives the expression of a strongly fluorescent GFP chimera which selectively localizes to the mitochondria. We also describe two of the many possible applications of this recombinant GFP in physiological studies. The targeted chimera allows the visualization of mitochondrial movement in living cells. Also, unlike dyes such as rhodamine, it reveals morphological changes induced in mitochondria by drugs that collapse the organelle membrane potential. Moreover, when GFP is cotransfected with a membrane receptor, such as the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor, the fluorescence of the GFP in intact cells can be used in recognizing the transfected cells. Thus, specific changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration that occur in cells expressing the recombinant receptor can be identified using a classical fluorescent Ca2+ indicator. CONCLUSION: GFP is an invaluable new tool for studies of molecular biology and cell physiology. As a marker of transfection in vivo, it provides a simple means of identifying genetically modified cells to be used in physiological studies. More importantly, chimeric GFP, which in principle can be targeted to any subcellular location, can be used to monitor complex phenomena in intact living cells, such as changes in shape and distribution of organelles, and it has the potential to be used as a probe of physiological parameters.

Polyacrylamides bearing pendant alpha-sialoside groups strongly inhibit agglutination of erythrocytes by influenza A virus: multivalency and steric stabilization of particulate biological systems.

An alpha-sialoside linked to acrylamide by a short connector (5-acetamido-2-O-(N-acryloyl-8-amino-5-oxaoctyl)-2,6-anhydro-3,5-d ideoxy-D-galacto-alpha-nonulopyranosonoic acid, 1) was prepared. Compound 1 formed high molecular weight copolymers with acrylamide, derivatives of acrylamide, and/or vinylpyrrolidone upon photochemically-initiated free radical polymerization. Those copolymers for which the substituents on the acrylamido nitrogen were small inhibited the agglutination of chicken erythrocytes induced by influenza virus (X-31 (H3N2); a recombinant strain of A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) and A/Puerto Rico/8/34 grown in chicken eggs). The inhibitory power of the polymers depended strongly on the conditions of polymerization and the sialic acid content of the polymer. The strongest inhibitors were copolymers (poly(1-co-acrylamide)) formed from mixtures of monomer containing [1]/([1] + [acrylamide]) approximately 0.2-0.7; these copolymers inhibited hemagglutination 10(4)-10(5) times more strongly than did similar concentrations of alpha-methyl sialoside (calculated on the basis of the total concentration of individual sialic acid groups in the solution, whether attached to polymer or present as monomers). Samples polymerized in the presence of low concentrations of cross-linking reagents (bis(acrylamido)methane, BIS, and 2,2'-bis(acrylamido)ethyl disulfide, BAC) also showed increased inhibition (10-10(3)-fold relative to monomers), but their use was limited by their poor solubility. Sterically demanding substituents on any position of the acrylamide component (substituents attached to the vinyl group or N-alkyl groups that are larger than hydroxyethyl) reduced the inhibitory power of the polymer. A 1H NMR assay and a fluorescence depolarization assay showed that poly(1-co-acrylamide) bound to a solubilized trimeric form of the viral receptor for sialic acid (bromelain cleaved hemagglutinin, BHA), less tightly than 1, on a per sialic acid basis. A similar result was also obtained with a model system comprising lactic dehydrogenase (a tetramer) and polymeric derivatives of oxamic acid: that is, poly((28, 29, 30, or 31)-co-acrylamide) had a higher inhibition constant for tetrameric lactic dehydrogenase than did the corresponding monomers (28, 29, 30, or 31) on a per oxamate basis. Poly(1-co-acrylamide) is, in principle, capable of inhibiting the agglutination of erythrocytes by several mechanisms: (1) entropically enhanced binding of the polymer (acting as a polyvalent inhibitor) to the surface of the virus; (2) steric interference of the approach of the virus to the surface of the erythrocyte by a water-swollen layer of the polymer on the surface of the virus; (3) aggregation of the virus induced by the polymer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Detection of influenza hemagglutinin interaction with biological membranes by photosensitized activation of [125I]iodonaphthylazide.

Fusion of influenza virus with cells is triggered by a pH-dependent conformational change in the viral envelope protein, hemagglutinin, which results in exposure of the fusion peptide and its insertion into the target membrane. We have investigated the association of hemagglutinin with erythrocyte membranes by photosensitized labeling with [125I]iodonaphthylazide. This technique relies on the collisional energy transfer from a photosensitizing chromophore to [125I]iodonaphthylazide, which selectively labels proteins in the vicinity of the chromophore. Incubation of influenza virus with erythrocyte membranes containing chromophore and [125I]iodonaphthylazide results in labeling of hemagglutinin under fusogenic conditions (pH 5 and 37 degrees C). We also examined photosensitized labeling of hemagglutinin upon incubation of the X31 strain of influenza virus with labeled erythrocyte membranes in a pre-fusion state (pH 5 and 4 degrees C). There was little hemagglutinin labeling under these conditions, although incubation of bromelain-cleaved hemagglutinin, which lacks the transmembrane region, resulted in rapid labeling. Hemagglutinin was also labeled by [125I]iodonaphthylazide photosensitized by a fluorescent substrate transported through the erythrocyte band 3 sialoglycoprotein. Hemagglutinin labeling decreased after an initial rapid rise, suggesting that the fusion site is close to the sialoglycoprotein and that [125I]iodonaphthylazide photosensitized labeling may be used to assay protein movement during fusion.

Inhibition of the fusion-inducing conformational change of influenza hemagglutinin by benzoquinones and hydroquinones.

Influenza hemagglutinin (HA) undergoes a conformational change that is required for viral entry. The rearrangement includes exposure of the fusion peptide, a hydrophobic segment buried in the trimer interface of the native protein. Since fusion peptide release triggers the membrane fusion event crucial for viral replication, inhibition of fusion peptide exposure should prevent infection. We reasoned that small molecules that bind to HA and stabilize its nonfusogenic conformation would block viral activity. A computer-assisted method was used to select putative HA ligands. One of the selected compounds, 4A,5,8,8A-tetrahydro-5,8-methano-1,4-naphthoquinone, prevented the conversion of X31 HA to a conformation recognized by alpha-fusion peptide antisera. Several derivatives of this compound, including both benzoquinones and hydroquinones, also showed inhibition. The most effective compounds tested have IC50S between 1 and 20 microM. Representative compounds also inhibited virus-induced syncytia formation, HA-mediated hemolysis, and viral infectivity in vitro. The inhibitors are attractive leads for the development of antiviral drugs and can serve as probes of the mechanism of the conformational change of HA.

Influenza A virus binding to human neutrophils and cross-linking requirements for activation.

Although neutrophils are not viewed as a principal defense against influenza A virus (IAV) infection, their interactions are both complex and clinically relevant. Activation of the neutrophil is distinctive from that described for chemoattractants. To more fully characterize the pathway by which IAV stimulates the human neutrophil, we have examined its binding characteristics. First, inhibition studies with various sialic acid-containing and sialic-free sugars showed that IAV binds to sialic acid residues and activates receptors distinct from those used by Concanavalin-A (Con-A) and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and that overlap those bound by wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). That viral hemagglutinin (HA) mediates viral binding and activation was shown by preincubating neutrophils with purified monovalent bromelain-released HA (BHA) and showing that IAV-induced membrane depolarization and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production were inhibited approximately 95%. However, binding inhibition required significantly higher concentrations of purified HA, suggesting that binding and cell activation have different interactive requirements. Desialation of the neutrophil surface membrane by neuraminidase treatment resulted in a 90.6% +/- 4.4% and 53.1% +/- 8.7% inhibition of IAV activation of neutrophils and viral binding, respectively. Resialation with ganglioside GT1b totally restored viral binding, but did not reverse the inhibition of activation. Thus, although HA was shown to mediate binding and neutrophil activation, viral binding per se was insufficient to stimulate the cell. Having demonstrated the functional role of HA, we sought to establish the mechanism of stimulation. HA in three different forms (BHA, HA-rosettes, and HA-liposomes) failed to activate the cell, although H2O2 production evoked by IAV stimulation was reduced in competitive inhibition studies with each preparation. Upon cross-linking with a monoclonal antibody to HA, activation comparable to that of intact virus was observed. The requirement for cross-linking of functional receptors, as opposed to activation through the neutrophil Fc receptor, was confirmed in experiments using staphylococcal A protein. These studies have shown the chemical specificity of IAV binding to the human neutrophil, the character of the receptor(s) stimulated to activate the IAV-evoked response, and the activation requirement for cross-linking those receptors responsible for stimulating functional responses.

Lipid interactions of the hemagglutinin HA2 NH2-terminal segment during influenza virus-induced membrane fusion.

Fusion of influenza viruses with target membranes is induced by acid and involves complex changes in the viral fusion protein hemagglutinin (HA) and in the contact sites between viruses and target membranes (Stegmann, T., White, J. M., and Helenius, A. (1990) EMBO J. 9, 4231-4241). At 0 degrees C, in a first, kinetically distinct step, target membranes irreversibly adhere to the viruses. Fusion itself starts only after a lag-phase of several minutes (X-31 strain viruses) or after raising the temperature (PR8/34 strain viruses). We now provide evidence that the initial conformational change resulting in virus-target membrane adhesion is restricted to a (minor) subpopulation of the HA molecules. These molecules become susceptible to bromelain digestion, and they could be labeled with the photoactivatable reagent [3H]PTPC/11, a nonexchangeable lipid present in the target lipid bilayer (Harter, C., Bächi, T., Semenza, G., and Brunner, J. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 1856-1864). Only the HA2 subunit was labeled, and analyses of 2-nitro-5-thio-cyanobenzoic acid fragments derived thereof indicate that the HA2 NH2-terminal segment (fusion peptide) inserted into the target membrane bilayer. When the temperature was raised to trigger fusion of PR8/34 viruses, labeling of HA2 increased by a factor of 130. Most (74%) of that label was incorporated into the COOH-terminal membrane anchor region, but there was also a strong increase (about 30-fold) of NH2-terminal fusion peptide labeling. This suggests that fusion is preceded., or accompanied, by further changes in HA which lead to additional extensive lipid insertions of HA2 fusion peptides.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the binding of sialosides to intact influenza virus.

The dissociation constants for binding of sialic acid derivatives to the hemagglutinin on intact influenza virus were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The dissociation constants determined with whole virus are similar to, but slightly higher than, those determined with BHA (hemagglutinin released from virus by treatment with the protease bromelain; Sauter et al., 1989, Biochemistry 28, 8388-8396), indicating that the sialic acid binding site is not significantly altered when hemagglutinin is released from virus. Binding was quantified by observing the concentration-dependent broadening of the sialoside resonances in the presence of X-31 virus or alternatively by observing the effect of the sialoside on the resonances of a competitive "reporter" ligand. The glycosidic substituent attached to the sialic acid makes relatively little difference in the affinity of the sialoside for virus: alpha(2,6)-sialyllactose (KD = 2.7 mM) binds only slightly more tightly than alpha(2,3)-sialyllactose (KD = 3.5 mM). However, inversion of the glycosidic center produces a dramatic change in affinity: the dissociation constant for the alpha-methyl glycoside of sialic acid is 4.2 mM, but not binding is observed with the beta-methyl glycoside.

The S protein of bovine coronavirus is a hemagglutinin recognizing 9-O-acetylated sialic acid as a receptor determinant.

The S protein of bovine coronavirus (BCV) has been isolated from the viral membrane and purified by gradient centrifugation. Purified S protein was identified as a viral hemagglutinin. Inactivation of the cellular receptors by sialate 9-O-acetylesterase and generation of receptors by sialylation of erythrocytes with N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) indicate that S protein recognizes 9-O-acetylated sialic acid as a receptor determinant as has been shown previously for intact virions. The second glycoprotein of BCV, HE, which has been thought previously to be responsible for the hemagglutinating activity of BCV, is a less efficient hemagglutinin; it agglutinates mouse and rat erythrocytes, but in contrast to S protein, it is unable to agglutinate chicken erythrocytes, which contain a lower level of Neu5,9Ac2 on their surface. S protein is proposed to be responsible for the primary attachment of virus to cell surface. S protein is proposed to be responsible for the primary attachement of virus to cell surface receptors. The potential of S protein as a probe for the detection of Neu5,9Ac2-containing glycoconjugates is demonstrated.