Viral attachment to host cell

"Viral attachment to host cell" describes the initial step in viral infection where specific proteins or glycans on the virus bind to particular receptors, adhesion molecules, or glycans on the host cell surface[1][2][3][5]. This process mediates host specificity, cell tropism, and is a prerequisite for viral entry, which can proceed via direct membrane fusion, endocytosis, or other mechanisms depending on the virus[3][5]. Attachment is mediated by viral proteins (such as the spike protein in SARS-CoV-2 or the glycoprotein in HIV) that recognize and bind host molecules including sialylated glycans, integrins, immunoglobulin superfamily members, and others[2][3][4]. Therapies targeting viral attachment aim to prevent the virus from binding to its host entry receptor, thus blocking infection at its earliest stage[3][4][5].

Other names

Viral attachmentVirus–receptor interactionVirus binding to host cellViral bindingVirus–host cell attachment

Blockade of virus binding to host receptor (antibodies or receptor mimics); Inhibition of membrane fusion (fusion inhibitors); Competitive inhibition of receptor binding (decoy receptors or small molecules)