title: The role of receptor binding specificity in interspecies transmission of influenza viruses.
abstract: Influenza A virus infection begins with the binding of the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein to sialic acid-containing receptors on the surface of the target cell. Avian influenza viruses, including avian H5N1, H7, and H9N2 viruses, can occasionally cross the species barrier and infect humans; however, these viruses do not spread efficiently from person to person, perhaps, partly, owing to differences in the receptor-binding specificities of human and avian influenza viruses. The HAs of avian influenza viruses must adapt to receptors in humans to acquire efficient human-to-human transmissibility. In this review, we discuss the receptor binding specificity of influenza A viruses and its role in interspecies transmission.
authors.affiliation: Influenza Virus Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashi-Murayama, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaoka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D011485:Protein Binding; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D011991:Receptors, Virus