Identification of human transferrin receptor as an entry co-receptor for parvovirus B19 infection of human erythroid progenitor cells.

Human transferrin receptor 1 (hTfR) acts as a critical entry co-receptor for parvovirus B19, facilitating viral internalization into human erythroid progenitor cells.

• Why it matters: Understanding how B19V infects erythroid progenitor cells is vital because it causes severe hematological disorders, yet no effective antivirals or vaccines exist due to limited knowledge of its entry mechanisms.
• What they did: The study used proximity labeling, biolayer interferometry, and inhibition assays to identify and confirm hTfR as a host protein that directly interacts with B19V VP1u, with key amino acids in the RBD domain mediating this binding.
• The result: Disrupting the VP1u-hTfR interaction significantly reduces B19V internalization and replication in EPCs, providing insights for developing antiviral strategies targeting viral entry pathways.