Probing virus-glycan interactions using glycan microarrays.

Glycan microarrays are surfaces that contain immobilized oligosaccharides or glycoconjugates and have proven useful in probing the interactions between glycan-binding proteins (GBPs) and individual glycans. Such glycan microarrays have been especially important in studying virus-glycan interactions, as most viruses express one or more GBPs important for pathogenesis. For studying interactions of influenza viruses with glycans, we describe protocols for fluorescent labeling of virus, addition of virus to a glycan microarray, analysis of a glycan microarray slide experiment, and interpretation of data.