Neutralized vesicular stomatitis virus binds to host cells by a different "receptor".

The addition of immune serum to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) results in the formation of VSV/antibody complexes which are non-infectious. Despite their being neutralized, these complexes still bind to host cells and are internalized at a rate equivalent to or greater than that observed for infectious virus. However, in contrast to infectious virus, the binding and uptake of neutralized VSV is not inhibited by phosphatidylserine and is partially sensitive to trypsin treatment. These results suggest that neutralized VSV binds to a different or additional cell binding site. By altering the VSV binding site, neutralizing antibodies may interfere with the fusogenic activity of G protein.