Shingles

[Violeta]

Sialic Acids on Varicella-Zoster Virus Glycoprotein B Are Required for Cell-Cell Fusion​

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/261...er virus (VZV),mediated by gB-MAG interaction.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a member of the human Herpesvirus family that causes varicella (chicken pox) and zoster (shingles).

VZV latently infects sensory ganglia and is also responsible for encephalomyelitis. Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), a member of the sialic acid (SA)-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin family, is mainly expressed in neural tissues.

VZV glycoprotein B (gB) associates with MAG and mediates membrane fusion during VZV entry into host cells. The SA requirements of MAG when associating with its ligands vary depending on the specific ligand, but it is unclear whether the SAs on gB are involved in the association with MAG.

In this study, we found that sialic acids on glycoproteinB are essential for the association with Myelin-associated glycoproteins as well as for membrane fusion during VZV infection. MAG with a point mutation in the SA-binding site did not bind to gB and did not mediate cell-cell fusion or VZV entry.

Cell-cell fusion and VZV entry mediated by the gB-MAG interaction were blocked by sialidase treatment. N-glycosylation or O-glycosylation inhibitors also inhibited the fusion and entry mediated by gB-MAG interaction. Furthermore, gB with mutations in N-glycosylation sites, i.e. asparagine residues 557 and 686, did not associate with MAG, and the cell-cell fusion efficiency was low.

Fusion between the viral envelope and cellular membrane is essential for host cell entry by herpesviruses. Therefore, these results suggest that SAs on gB play important roles in MAG-mediated VZV infection.

 

[lenora]

Hello Violeta.....I just wanted to add that shingles can be one very bad dude.

I've done battle with the illness a number of times. Trust me, people, it's nothing you want or definitely need.

Personally, after having the vaccine that cut the risk down to 50%, there is now a two part vaccine that is something like 90% effective. Since having it, I've been shingles free. I just wanted to let everyone know to ask their doctor first, but it's available at all large drugstores and in me caused no side-effects, apart from the usual of a sore arm. In other words, a non-event. I certainly don't want to do battle with shingles ever again in my life. Most people who have had the illness would say the same.

My best wishes to everyone. Yours, Lenora