Abstract: The subject of the present invention is the use of a polypeptide comprising at least 6 continuous amino acids of the sequence as shown in the sequence identifiers 1 to 5 as cellular receptor and/or coreceptor for adenoviruses. It also relates to the use of a cell capable of expressing such a polypeptide as well as that of a ligand capable of influencing the attachment of an adenovirus to a host cell and/or its entry into the said host cell. Finally, it also relates to a method for selecting or identifying a cellular receptor for a virus or the part of a viral protein which determines the attachment of the virus to its cellular receptor as well as to the use of a bifunctional ligand to target an adenovirus to a host cell carrying, at its surface, a surface protein other than the natural cellular receptor for the said adenovirus.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is the use of a polypeptide comprising at least 6 continuous amino acids of the sequence as shown in the sequence identifiers 1 to 5 as cellular receptor and/or coreceptor for adenoviruses. It also relates to the use of a cell capable of expressing such a polypeptide as well as that of a ligand capable of influencing the attachment of an adenovirus to a host cell and/or its entry into the said host cell. Finally, it also relates to a method for selecting or identifying a cellular receptor for a virus or the part of a viral protein which determines the attachment of the virus to its cellular receptor as well as to the use of a bifunctional ligand to target an adenovirus to a host cell carrying, at its surface, a surface protein other than the natural cellular receptor for the said adenovirus.