Resistance to Parvovirus B19 Infection Due to Lack of Virus Receptor (Erythrocyte P Antigen)

Abstract
The presence of a specific cellular receptor is thought to be necessary for susceptibility to viral infection. The erythrocyte P antigen is the cellular receptor for parvovirus B19. We hypothesized that the rare persons with the p phenotype, whose erythrocytes do not have this receptor, would be naturally resistant to B19 infection, which causes erythema infectiosum.