Globoside is an essential intracellular factor required for parvovirus B19 endosomal escape in erythroid progenitor cells.

A preprint abstract from biorxiv.org challenges the current understanding of how human parvovirus B19 (B19V) enters cells. It suggests that B19V enters erythroid progenitor cells through a mechanism mediated by the glycosphingolipid globoside, without disrupting the endosome or undergoing retrograde transport to the Golgi. The study found that B19V phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity requires specific calcium levels and pH conditions that are not optimal in endosomes, and that globoside knockout cells are unable to facilitate endosomal escape of the virus. The research suggests that globoside is an essential intracellular receptor for B19V entry. However, it is important to note that this preprint has not been peer-reviewed. [Extracted from the article]