Sendai virus-like particles devoid of haemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein infect cells via the human asialoglycoprotein receptor.

Virus-like particles with genetically defined envelope proteins were generated from cDNA in order to examine the requirement of Sendai virus haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein for particle formation, and the role of fusion protein (F) in receptor binding and membrane fusion. Characterization of particles devoid of HN protein showed that particle formation was unimpaired by the absence of HN protein, indicating that HN protein is dispensable for virus assembly and budding. Infection studies further demonstrated that virus adsorption and penetration can be mediated solely by the F protein when the human asialoglycoprotein receptor is present at the surface of host cells.