Murine coronavirus with an extended host range uses heparan sulfate as an entry receptor.

de Haan, Cornelis A M; Li, Zhen; te Lintelo, Eddie; Bosch, Berend Jan; Haijema, Bert Jan; Rottier, Peter J M

Only a relatively few mutations in its spike protein allow the murine coronavirus to switch from a murine-restricted tropism to an extended host range by being passaged in vitro. One such virus that we studied had acquired two putative heparan sulfate-binding sites while preserving another site in the furin-cleavage motif. The adaptation of the virus through the use of heparan sulfate as an attachment/entry receptor was demonstrated by increased heparin binding as well as by inhibition of infection through treatment of cells and the virus with heparinase and heparin, respectively.