Analysis of the Sialic Acid-Binding Activity of Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus

Porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) has been shown to agglutinate erythrocytes using a2,3-linked sialic acid on the cell surface as binding site. The hemagglutinating activity requires the pretreament of virus with neuraminidase. We obtained evidence that TGEV recognizes not only N-acetylneuraminic acid but also N-glycoloylneuraminic acid, a sialic acid present on many porcine cells.