Ganglioside GM(1a) on the cell surface is involved in the infection by human rotavirus KUN and MO strains

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and children worldwide. The cell attachment of most animal rotaviruses, which belong to the neuraminidase-sensitive strains, requires sialic acid residue s on the host cell membranes. On the other hand, most human rotaviruses are classified as neuraminidase-insensitive strains. The involvement of gangli osides on the host cell surface in human rotavirus infection was investigat ed by immunostaining analysis of target cells, and by assaying the neutrali zation of infection by rotavirus and the blocking of target cellular recept ors. In host cells (MA104 cells) pretreated with Arthrobacter ureafaciens n euraminidase, which were still infected by human rotaviruses (KUN and MO st rains), GM(3) was hydrolyzed markedly by the neuraminidase, while GM(1a) wa s not hydrolyzed at all. Infection by the rotaviruses was strongly inhibite d by exogenous ganglioside GM(1a), but not GA,. Infection was also inhibite d by pretreatment of the MA104 cells with cholera toxin B-subunit, which sp ecifically blocked ganglioside GM(1a) on the plasma membrane. The treatment of MA104 cells with the endoglycoceramidase attenuated human rotavirus inf ection. From these findings, we concluded that GM(1a) on the plasma membran e of the host cells was involved in the infection by human rotavirus KUN an d MO strains.