Role of carbohydrates in cell membrane receptors for vesicular stomatitis virus.

A study has been made to clarify the importance of some carbohydrate components of goose red blood cell and BHK 21 cell membrane receptors for vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Experiments have been carried out by inducing enzymatic modifications on the surface of intact cells and following the interaction between VSV and treated cells. Results obtained indicate that the removal of mannose, galactose and fucose from cell membranes reduces the attachment of the virus to cell receptors.