Antigen processing and presentation of human rhinovirus to CD4 T cells is facilitated by binding to cellular receptors for virus

Human rhinovirus serotypes (HRV) fall into two distinct groups, major and minor, by virtue of their cell receptor‐binding ability. In this study minor receptor‐binding group viruses are demonstrated to bind directly to cells of the murine immune system, including lymphoid dendritic cells which act as antigen‐presenting cells, although they do not produce a productive infection in murine cells. This binding is specific and can be blocked by other serotypes of minor‐group HRV Pre‐treatment of HRV 1A, a minor‐group virus, with HRV 1A‐specific antibodies inhibited the cellular proliferation of murine virus primed T helper cells, whereas antibody treatment of HRV 15, a non‐binding major serotype, gave no inhibition. The cell binding ability of minor‐group HRV played a role in the overall immunogenicity of this virus group, which was shown to be enhanced compared to the immunogenicity of major‐group viruses in mice.