At 07:26 PM 10/12/97 +1000, Leonard Pattenden wrote
>> There is an idea which has been put to me, and I thought I
>might post it to see what other peoples views might be. It is as follows:-
>The surface of a cell has a net charge which is of the same type as a
>viral surface. So for a virus to find a receptor or protein which it can
>form an attachment with, it must scan the surface of the cell. This is
>achieved by Brownian motion - ie the virus oscillates in a localised area.
>First of all - are their any feelings for or against this view?
>Secondly - How exactly does the virus find the target? Is there slightly
>less repulsion in one area for migration? Does electrostatic forces
>dictate the attachment? Is the range being described here close enough for
>electrostatic attraction?
>
I would certainly agree that net charge is important - with both the viruses
that I work with ie rubella and coxsackievirus ( one enveloped, the other
not) the pH of the innoculum appears to be extremely important in
determining efficiency of adsorption and therefore infection - in both
cases, a slightly acidic medium is optimal.
Janet Chantler, PhD
Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine
University of British Columbia
BC Research Institute for Child & Family Health
950 West 28th ave
Vancouver, BC
V5Z 4H4
