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Title: STUDIES ON THE VIRAL AND CELL SURFACE RECEPTORS OF AVIAN PNEUMOVIRUS

Author
item Turpin, Elizabeth
item Swayne, David

Submitted to: American Society for Virology Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2002
Publication Date: 6/7/2002
Citation: Turpin, E.A., Swayne, D.E. 2002. Studies On The Viral And Cell Surface Receptors Of Avian Pneumovirus. American Society for Virology Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Avian pneumoviruses (APV) belong to the family Paramyxoviridae, subfamily Pneumovirinae, and genus Metapneumovirus. APV is the cause of an upper respiratory disease of turkeys characterized by coughing, nasal discharge, and infraorbital sinus swelling. Little is known about the pathogenesis of APV, but studies in this and other labs have shown that infection is more severe in younger animals, limited to the respiratory tract and vaccinatio or secondary agents may result in increased disease. APV is similar to human and bovine respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSV and BRSV), also found in the subfamily Pneumovirinae. RSV has two major envelope glycoproteins, G and F, which are responsible for attachment and membrane fusion, respectively. Although it has been demonstrated the G molecule of HRSV is responsible for attachment, viruses lacking the G protein are still capable of infection and replication. This observation, together with the variety of cell types these viruses can replicate in indicates a complex process with several cellular and viral components may be responsible for attachment. Cell surface proteoglycans, including heparin appear important for HRSV binding. Although both G and F can be found in the APV genome, little is know about their role in infection. Studies in our laboratory have focused on binding assays and membrane preparations to help better understand the viral or cellular receptors responsible for APV infection.