title: Influenza A virus receptors in the respiratory and intestinal tracts of pigeons.
abstract: To understand the basis of the resistance of pigeons to Asian lineage highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) subtype H5N1, we examined the presence of influenza virus receptors, sialic acids linked to galactose by an alpha-2,3 linkage (SAalpha2,3Gal) or by an alpha-2,6 linkage (SAalpha2,6Gal), in respiratory and intestinal tracts of pigeons and compared the distributions of N-acetylneuraminic and N-glycolylneuraminic acids in the trachea and intestines of pigeons and chickens. Results suggested that the epithelial surfaces of the larynx, trachea, bronchus, and bronchiole of pigeons contained abundant SAalpha2,6Gal with little or no SAalpha2,3Gal. In contrast, the epithelial surfaces of the pharynx, trachea, bronchus, and bronchiole of chickens contained mainly SAalpha2,3Gal, a well-recognized receptor for avian influenza viruses including H5N1 HPAIV. A similar distribution pattern of N-acetylneuraminic and N-glycolylneuraminic acids in the trachea and intestines of pigeons and chickens was observed. Overall, the results suggest that SAalpha2,6Gal is the major receptor in the pigeon airway, which may partly contribute to the resistance of pigeons to Asian lineage HPAIV subtype H5N1.
authors: Institute of Animal and Husbandry Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, PR China. liuyuehuan@baafs.net.cn
authors: Yuehuan
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Chunhua
authors: C
authors: Han
authors: Xiuqing
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Lin
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Ma
authors: Yuelong
authors: Y
authors: Shu
authors: Jiao
authors: J
authors: Zhou
authors: Hanchun
authors: H
authors: Yang
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: Liang
authors: Chaotan
authors: C
authors: Guo
authors: Junjie
authors: J
authors: Zhu
authors: Haitao
authors: H
authors: Wei
authors: Jingyi
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Zhijun
authors: Z
authors: Ma
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Pan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D010856:Columbidae / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000821:virology; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009438:Neuraminic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D009438:Neuraminic Acids; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D011991:Receptors, Virus; C016735:sialooligosaccharides; C032592:N-glycolylneuraminic acid; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid