Abstract
The first step of viral infection requires interaction with the host cell. Before finding the specific receptor that triggers entry, the majority of viruses interact with the glycocalyx. Identifying the carbohydrates that are specifically recognized by different viruses is important both for assessing the cellular tropism and for identifying new antiviral targets. Advances in the tools available for studying glycan–protein interactions have made it possible to identify them more rapidly; however, it is important to recognize the limitations of these methods in order to draw relevant conclusions. Here, we review different techniques: genetic screening, glycan arrays, enzymatic and pharmacological approaches, and surface plasmon resonance. We then detail the glycan interactions of enterovirus D68 and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), highlighting the aspects that need further clarification.
Highlights
Glycan Involvement in ViralThis review focuses on methods for assessing the involvement of carbohydrates in viral attachment and entry into the host cell
This was initially achieved by screening a human haploid cell line, HAP1, in which the genes were randomly inactivated by a retroviral gene trap, and subsequently used clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) libraries, which allowed the application of a similar method to a larger number of cell lines
This review described the consolidated methods used to identify the glycans that interact with viruses in the initial steps of infection
Summary
This review focuses on methods for assessing the involvement of carbohydrates in viral attachment and entry into the host cell. HS are highly sulfated linear polysaccharides attached to a protein core [1] They are involved in the cell attachment of many viruses including the herpes simplex virus, dengue virus (DENV), human papillomavirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) [1]. They have been reported to have a role in some coronaviruses, namely human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) [2], severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) [3], and SARS-CoV-2 [4]. We focus on those viruses for which the attachment receptors have been identified but further verification is needed, namely enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) and SARS-CoV-2
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