Gallus gallus coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor facilitates the binding of fowl adenovirus serotype 1 in chickens.

Coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (UXADR) is an integral membrane protein that serves as a receptor for coxsackie B viruses and adenovirus types 2 and 5. Previous studies demonstrated that Fowl adenovirus (FAV) can also utilize Homo sapiens CXADR to infect cells. FAV is a double-stranded DNA virus of the family Adenoviridae. FAV causes inclusion body hepatitis and hydropericardium syndrome in chickens. In addition, FAV serotypes 1 and 8 have recently been shown to cause gizzard erosion in chickens. These chicken diseases and growth insufficiency caused by FAV infection result in great economic loss. Thus, identifying and characterizing the viral receptor would further enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying virus infection and histocompatibility. Here, in order to determine the FAV receptor in chickens, we investigated the effect of the recently identified Gallus gallus CXADR (ggCXADR) on FAV infection. Overexpression of ggCXADR in CHO cells resulted in increased FAV binding and expression of early FAV genes. However, the propagation of infectious viruses in CHO cells expressing ggCXADR was not detected. These findings provide the basis for further studies aimed at elucidating the infection mechanism of FAV. Further research is required to characterize the additional host factors involved in FAV infection and life cycle.