Use of a Glycan Library Reveals a New Model for Enteric Virus Oligosaccharide Binding and Virion Stabilization

Abstract

Enteric viruses are transmitted through the fecal-oral route, but how enteric viruses survive in the environment is unclear. Previously, we found that bacterial polysaccharides enhance poliovirus stability against heat or bleach inactivation, but the specific molecular requirements have been unknown. Here, we showed that certain short-chain oligosaccharides can bind to poliovirus but do not increase virion stability. Long-chain polysaccharides bind and may bridge adjacent sites on the viral surface, thus increasing capsid rigidity and stability. This work defines the unique interactions of poliovirus and glycans, which provides insight into virion environmental stability and transmission.