Vm. Pleskov et al., RECEPTOR-MEDIATED ENDOCYTOSIS OF INFLUENZ A-VIRUSES AND LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS BY TISSUE-CELLS, Voprosy virusologii, 39(3), 1994, pp. 121-125
The experimental data obtained by immunological, immunomorphological,
biochemical, and virological methods are presented which substantiate
a concept that various strains of influenza virus under study may pene
trate tissue cells at sites of high affinity usually meant for low den
sity lipoproteins (LDLP) providing the cells with cholesterol for cons
truction of outer and inner membranes. A computer analysis of a bank o
f data on the primary structure of proteins (the package of GENBER(TM)
programme) revealed significant similarity of amino acid sequences be
tween the area of viral hemagglutinin site attachment to cells and cor
responding amino acids comprising apoB LDLP. The presented proofs are
a convincing example of virus particles mimicry realized at the molecu
lar level and give new concepts concerning the mechanisms of virus pen
etration into body cells which are important for the development of a
principally new approach to creation of highly effective antiviral com
pounds. Moreover, the observed phenomenon may serve for explanation of
the nature and mechanism of action of the so-called thermostable viru
s-neutralizing blood serum inhibitor.