The importance of heparan sulfate in herpesvirus infection

Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is one of many pathogens that use the cell surface glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate as a receptor.Heparan sulfate is highly expressed on the surface and extracellular matrix of virtually all cell types making it an ideal receptor.Heparan sulfate interacts with HSV-1 envelope glycoproteins gB and gC during the initial attachment step during HSV-1 entry.In addition,a modified form of heparan sulfate,known as 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate,interacts with HSV-1 gD to induce fusion between the viral envelope and host cell membrane.The 3-O-sulfation of heparan sulfate is a rare modification which occurs during the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate that is carded out by a family of enzymes known as 3-O-sulfotransferases.Due to its involvement in multiple steps of the infection process,heparan sulfate has been a prime target for the development of agents to inhibit HSV entry.Understanding how heparan sulfate functions during HSV-1 infection may not only be critical for inhibiting infection by this virus,but it may also be crucial in the fight against many other pathogens as well.