ENHANCEMENT OF ROTAVIRUS INFECTIVITY BY SATURATED FATTY-ACIDS

The effect of different saturated fatty acids from 10 to 16 carbon ato m chains and some derivatives on the infectivity of SA-11 rotavirus wa s examined. Both fatty acids and derivatives induced an increase of ro tavirus infected LLC-MK2 cells when present during viral absorption to host cells. Capric acid and palmitic acid were the most effective wit h a dose-dependent relationship. These last lipids, in the same experi mental conditions, failed to restore the susceptibility to infection o f LLC-MK2 cells made resistant by neuraminidase treatment or to allow cell infection by non-infectious single-shelled viral particles. Resul ts obtained suggest that the enhancing effect on viral infectivity by saturated fatty acids requires previous binding of rotaviral outer cap sid proteins to sialic acid containing cell receptors.