Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biochemistry & Molecular Biol.

First Advisor

Dr. Eugene Wu

Abstract

Adenovirus Type 64 (Ad.64) belongs to the adenovirus subgroup D, which causes epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), otherwise known as viral pink eye. There is currently no known effective treatment for EKC. Membrane Cofactor Protein (CD46) is an integral membrane glycoprotein that, in previous studies, has been identified as a protein receptor for the closely related Ad.37. It has been determined that Ad.64 uses CD46 as a receptor on the cell surface in HeLa cells. CD46 is alternatively spliced when expressed to have different isoforms of interest, including the BC and C isoforms. Certain cell types, like A549 lung carcinoma cells, express only BC isoforms while other cells, like HeLa cells, express both BC and C isoforms. Ad.64 does not seem to use CD46 on A549 cells, but instead likely uses sialic acid as a receptor. Thus, we know that different forms of CD46 are made by different cells, and there may be some functional difference. It is unclear which isoform is being used when Ad.64 infects HeLa cells. Additionally, there is evidence that other proteins may work in partnership with CD46-C. Through electron microscopy, we show that Ad.64 does use CD46 as a receptor for viral infection. Furthermore, the goal of this project is to characterize which proteins work in partnership with CD46-C to further enhance our understanding of the binding mechanism of Ad.64 to human cells.

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