Forms spikes that protrude from each vertex of the icosahedral capsid. Interacts with host coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor CXADR located at the cell tight junctions to provide virion initial attachment to target cell. The fiber protein binds to CXADR with a higher affinity than CXADR binds to itself, thereby blocking the cell-cell adhesion function of CXADR dimers and leading to local disruption of the tight junction. Fiber protein present on neo-synthesized particles may thus disrupt the junctional integrity in order to facilitate further neighboring cells infection. Fiber proteins are shed during virus entry, when virus is still at the cell surface. Fiber shedding is dependent on viral CXADR drifting motion and subsequent binding to immobile integrins. Heparan sulfate might also play a role in virus binding.

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