title: Receptor binding profiles of avian influenza virus hemagglutinin subtypes on human cells as a predictor of pandemic potential.
abstract: The host adaptation of influenza virus is partly dependent on the sialic acid (SA) isoform bound by the viral hemagglutinin (HA). Avian influenza viruses preferentially bind the α-2,3 SA and human influenza viruses the α-2,6 isoform. Each isoform is predominantly associated with different surface epithelial cell types of the human upper airway. Using recombinant HAs and human tracheal airway epithelial cells in vitro and ex vivo, we show that many avian HA subtypes do not adhere to this canonical view of SA specificity. The propensity of avian viruses to adapt to human receptors may thus be more widespread than previously supposed.
authors.affiliation: Section of Virology, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ayora-Talavera
authors.forename: Junyuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pickles
authors.forename: Wendy S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000821:virology; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D058873:Pandemics; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid