title: Molecular characterization of the surface glycoprotein genes of an H5N1 influenza virus isolated from a human in Guangdong, China.
abstract: In March 2006, a human H5N1-infected case was found in Guangdong province, China. Here, we molecularly characterized the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the A/China/GD01/06 (GD01) strain causing the infection. The phylogenetic analyses suggested that the HA and NA genes of GD01 and recent human H5N1 viruses from different provinces of China were probably derived from a common ancestor and the H5N1 human infection was acquired directly from affected poultry. At the cleavage site of HA, GD01 contained multiple basic amino acids, a feature characteristic of highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses. The virus possessed Gln222, Gly224, Ser223, Asn182, Gln192 residues adjacent to the receptor-binding site, preferential for recognizing SAalpha2, 3Gal. In addition, the GD01 NA amino acid sequence possessed Asn344 and Phe466, which might be related to the low-pH stability of the sialidase activity and gastrointestinal symptoms of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: J-J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: D-Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: L-F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D009439:Neuraminidase