{
  "abstract": "The goal of the study is to determine if the N-glycosylation on a virus affects its diffusion or solution state in different environmental conditions, and if the nature of the solution states has any consequence for the virus infectivity. HIV-1 lentivirus is frequently pseudo-typed with the envelope protein of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, VSV-G, for gene and cell therapy applications. VSV-G proteins have complex type N-glycans. The diffusion profile of the lentivirus having VSV-G envelope proteins was monitored in different solution conditions using Dynamic Light Scattering, and inferences checked by AFM, filtration, antibody, and p24 ELISA experiments. The virus switched between one of three solution states in response to changes in its environment: (a) a self-aggregated state when serum to virus ratio was low, and Ca2+ and pH levels were below 2 mM and 7.4, respectively, (b) a dispersed state when serum to virus ratio was high, but Ca2+ and pH levels were still below 2mM and 7.4, respectively, and (c) a Ca-induced aggregated state when Ca2+ and pH levels exceeded 2mM and 7.4 respectively. The diffusion peak of the aggregated virus can be pulled out by antibodies against VSV-G or can be filtered out with attendant loss in p24 count and infectivity. The three solution states exhibited significantly different infectivity levels. Interestingly, the trigger conditions for switching the virus solution state occur at physiological levels of pH, Ca2+, and serum, implying that small deviations from the homeostatic conditions can induce large changes in virus infectivity. The ability to exist and switch between three solution states was lost when the terminal sialic acid and galactose residues on the virus envelope protein were cleaved. It appears that the complex N-glycans on a virus allow the latter to respond to deviations from homeostatic environmental conditions by switching solution states.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Chemical Engineering, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America",
    "Center for Sickle Cell Disease, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Tzu-Lan Chang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ayobami I. Ogundiran"
    },
    {
      "name": "Andrey Ivanov"
    },
    {
      "name": "Gabrielle Torain"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sergei Nekhai"
    },
    {
      "name": "Preethi L. Chandran"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/88ynr4wtfk9gk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357567",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "88ynr4wtfk9gk",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357567",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1311|Virus-based gene therapy research"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Proteins/Immune system proteins/Antibodies"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Proteins/Lectins"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Proteins/Serum proteins"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Immunology/Immune system proteins/Antibodies"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV/HIV-1"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV/HIV-1"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Vesicular stomatitis virus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Virology/Viral structure/Viral envelope"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV/HIV-1"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/RNA viruses/Retroviruses/Lentivirus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/RNA viruses/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV/HIV-1"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/RNA viruses/Rhabdoviruses/Vesicular stomatitis virus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV/HIV-1"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV/HIV-1"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Vesicular stomatitis virus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Immune physiology/Antibodies"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Immunology/Immune system proteins/Antibodies"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV/HIV-1"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV/HIV-1"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Vesicular stomatitis virus"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Immunologic techniques/Immunoassays/Enzyme-linked immunoassays"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212067728",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0357567&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-09",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/88ynr4wtfk9gk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357567",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357567"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:microbiology",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "HIV-1 lentivirus with VSV-G envelope: Complex N glycosylation governs shifts in aggregation and infectivity state at close to physiological pH, serum, and Ca²⁺ levels",
  "title_text": "HIV-1 lentivirus with VSV-G envelope: Complex N glycosylation governs shifts in aggregation and infectivity state at close to physiological pH, serum, and Ca²⁺ levels",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/88ynr4wtfk9gk",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}