RECEPTOR-MEDIATED ENDOCYTOSIS OF INFLUENZ A-VIRUSES AND LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS BY TISSUE-CELLS

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.