Distribution of cell receptors and simple sugar inhibitors during encephalomyocarditis virus-cell union.

Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus was studied for ability to agglutinate erythrocytes of various species. Human, rat, and guinea pig erythrocytes, as well as those from young rabbits, were readily agglutinated. Cells from older rabbits absorbed virus poorly, and showed little agglutination. Uptake of virus by rabbit brain also diminished with age. Various mouse tissues absorbed virus about equally well. Hemagglutination-inhibition studies demonstrated that a number of simple sugars, particularly glucose and galactosamine, interfered with uptake of virus by cells. Dextran sulfates were highly active inhibitors of EMC hemagglutination. Attempts to localize the site of action of the sugars on virus or cell are described. Treatment of virus with periodate or p-chloromercurobenzoate, and acetylation of virus, inhibited hemagglutination, but acetylation of semipurified receptor did not. Clarification of the nature of the virus-cell union will require studies to identify possible specific sugars in the virus capsid and the cell receptor.