Host factors involved in PEDV infection
It is well known that viral infection is a multi-step process including adsorption, cell entry, dehulling, biosynthesis, assembly, and release, etc. Besides the viral proteins of PEDV, the implication of numerous host factors including receptors in these processes has been confirmed, which is described as following in accordance with the infection stages.
Attachment and Entry
Adsorption of viruses to the host cells is the first and decisive step for determining the virus tropism, namely the ability of different viruses to infect various cell types. Correspondingly, virus-specific receptors on the host cell surface are tightly related to the tissue tropism and host range, and mediate the entrance of viruses including PEDV into the host cells.