Rotaviruses need sugar receptors to invade cells

New research into rotaviruses has found the virus enters the body via cell-surface carbohydrate receptors in the gastrointestinal tract.

Rotaviruses are the most common cause of severe diarrhoea in children - almost all children are infected by the time they are five years old. The virus kills up to half a million children worldwide each year - the majority in third world countries.

Associate Professor Barbara Coulson from the University of Melbourne and Professor Mark von Itzstein, director of Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics, say the findings provide clues about how these viruses might be targeted in order to stop them from infecting cells.

“What we have found is that not all human rotaviruses recognise the same sugar receptor, and this important information will be invaluable in the discovery of anti-rotaviral drugs,” Coulson said.

With a better understanding of the carbohydrates that are important for the virus to invade cells, the researchers are keen to pursue work towards novel drug and vaccine development.

“Our findings greatly advance our understanding of the sugar receptors used by human rotaviruses and provide clues as to how we might target this virus to stop it infecting cells,” said von Itzstein.

The research has been published in Nature Communications.