What is a co-receptor?

[Lothric]

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Hey Y'all,

According to First Aid 2017 CXCR4 and CCR5 are co-receptors for HIV. But what do co-receptors mean? It's crazy that nowhere on the Internet can I find a clear and concise explanation about this. It's driving me crazy...

Could it be that a co-receptor is a receptor that can bind to its ligand more readily ONCE another ligand binds to another receptor? I really don't get it.

 

[Reperfused]

As far as I understand, in this particular case atleast, it means that you need both receptors for the virus to gain entry into the cell. Both receptors have to be there and working. If one is there and the other one isn't, the whole thing doesn't work.
This is the reason why having a mutation in CCR5 provides immunity against HIV.

 

[Lothric]

That makes alot of sense thinking about it. Thank you Reper!