EVIDENCE FOR THE ROLE OF GLYCOPROTEIN-G OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS IN BINDING OF NEISSERIA-MENINGITIDIS TO HEP-2 CELLS

Viral glycoproteins G and F are expressed on the surface of cells infe cted with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We investigated the role of these proteins in the previously reported enhanced binding of Neiss eria meningitidis to RSV-infected HEp-2 cells. Virus particles attache d to bacteria were detected by immunofluorescence with flow cytometry. Binding of FITC-labelled bacteria to RSV-infected cells was significa ntly inhibited by monoclonal antibody against glycoprotein G. Unlabell ed bacteria interfered with binding of the anti-G monoclonal antibody to these cells. These interactions were not found with a monoclonal an tibody against glycoprotein F. We propose that glycoprotein G of RSV e xpressed on the surface of infected cells might act as an additional r eceptor for meningococci.