Human noroviruses cause recurrent epidemics of gastroenteritis known to be dominated by the clinically important GII.4 genotype which recognizes human Secretor gene-dependent ABH histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) as attachment factors. There is increasing evidence that GII.4 noroviruses have undergone evolutionary changes to recognize Lewis antigens and non-Secretor saliva. Based on extensive molecular dynamics simulations, we suggest the possibility of different receptor binding modes for HBGAs that could explain these shifts in specificity of the virus. Recent STD NMR and X-ray studies are in agreement with this finding. It was also found that sialyl LewisX maintains significant flexibility in the binding site. Here we will present new data revealing the dynamic nature of the molecular recognition mechanism as well as improved software that allows to analyse such complex molecular interactions in an efficient way.

Insights into the dynamic nature of the recognition of blood group antigens by GII.4 noroviruses

245th National Meeting (2013)

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