Chikungunya Virus E2 N218K Enhances Heparan Sulfate-Dependent Attachment and Viral Internalization While Conferring Partial Attenuation in A129 Mice
The E2 glycoprotein of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) binds negatively charged cell-surface heparan sulfate (HS) to facilitate viral attachment and modulate pathogenicity, yet the E2 determinants governing HS-dependent attachment and the effects of altered HS utilization on subsequent infection remain incompletely defined....