Membrane lipid components interacting with hepatitis A virus.

The involvement of lipid components in hepatitis A virus (HAV) attachment to host cells has been investigated. Isolated Frp/3 cell membranes and whole lipids, phospholipid and glycolipid fractions extracted from them were able to bind the virus and to prevent infection. Treatment of virus with various phospholipids or glycolipids demonstrated the participation of phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and galactose in HAV binding. Results obtained added further information on the receptor specificity of host cells for HAV.