Amino acid substitutions in norovirus VP1 dictate host dissemination via variations in cellular attachment.

All viruses initiate infection by utilizing receptors to attach to target host cells. These virus-receptor interactions can therefore dictate viral replication and pathogenesis. Understanding the nature of virus-receptor interactions could also be important for the development of novel therapies.

Amino acid substitutions in norovirus VP1 dictate cell tropism via an attachment process dependent on membrane mobility.

Viruses interact with receptors on the cell surface to initiate and co-ordinate infection. The distribution of receptors on host cells can be a key determinant of viral tropism and host infection. Unravelling the complex nature of virus-receptor interactions is, therefore, of fundamental importance to understanding viral pathogenesis.