Integrin alpha 2 beta 1 is one of twelve integrin family adhesion receptors that share the beta 1 subunit. It is a receptor for laminin, collagen, collagen C-propeptides, fibronectin and E-cadherin. It recognizes the proline-hydroxylated sequence G-F-P-G-E-R in collagen. It is responsible for adhesion of platelets and other cells to collagens, modulation of collagen and collagenase gene expression, force generation and organization of newly synthesized extracellular matrix. Integrin ITGA2:ITGB1 acts as a receptor for Human rotavirus A and Human echoviruses 1 and 8. DGEA inhibited rotavirus binding to alpha2beta1 and infectivity. In a novel process, integrin-using viruses bind the alpha2 I domain of alpha2beta1 via DGE in VP4 and interact with alphaXbeta2 (via GPR) and alphaVbeta3 by using VP7 to facilitate cell entry and infection.