Enveloped RNA virus utilization of phosphatidylserine receptors: Advantages of exploiting a conserved, widely available mechanism of entry.

Enveloped virus utilization of PS receptors: Advantages and disadvantages of this functionall... One common viral lifestyle strategy that is benefited by the use of PS receptors is virus targeting of a wide variety of host species. As PS, PS receptor structure, and PS receptor function are highly conserved attributes among mammalian hosts and functionally conserved in insect hosts, the potential of PS receptors to facilitate zoonotic transmission under specific circumstances should not be ignored. Enveloped RNA virus entry is a conceptually simple stepwise process: A virus attaches to host cells, which leads to viral membrane/cellular membrane fusion and viral genome injection into the cytoplasm. While the inherent low-affinity interactions between PS and PS receptors is likely a disadvantage for a broad range of viruses to use this uptake mechanism, specific viruses are directly antagonized by PS receptors. [Extracted from the article]