Interaction of the rotavirus spike with cellular receptors including glycans (sugars) and integrins controls rotavirus entry into the cell. In collaboration with colleagues at the Institute of Glycomics, Barbara’s group is identifying the cell surface sugars recognised by human rotaviruses, determining their roles in infection in relation to integrin usage, and characterising the binding sites on both receptor partners. Further understanding the process of their newly discovered rearrangement of the spike protein is being sought. They also aim to design, synthesise and evaluate small molecule and glycan subunit-based inhibitors that block host cell recognition by the spike protein of human rotaviruses.
Public Health
