The T160A hemagglutinin substitution affects not only receptor binding property but also transmissibility of H5N1 clade 2.3.4 avian influenza virus in guinea pigs.
We generated and characterized site-directed HA mutants on the genetic backbone of H5N1 clade 2.3.4 virus preferentially binding to α-2,3 receptors in order to identify the key determinants in hemagglutinin rendering the dual affinity to both α-2,3 (avian-type) and α-2,6 (human-type) linked sialic acid receptors of the current clade 2.3.4.4 H5NX subtype avian influenza reassortants. The results show that the T160A substitution resulted in the loss of a glycosylation site at 158N and led not only to enhanced binding specificity for human-type receptors but also transmissibility among guinea pigs, which could be considered as an important molecular marker for assessing pandemic potential of H5 subtype avian influenza isolates.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Min
M
Gu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Qunhui
Q
Li
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Ruyi
R
Gao
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Dongchang
D
He
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Yunpeng
Y
Xu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Haixu
H
Xu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.|Yangzhou Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Lijun
L
Xu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Xiaoquan
X
Wang
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Jiao
J
Hu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Xiaowen
X
Liu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Shunlin
S
Hu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.|Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Daxin
D
Peng
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.|Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
Xinan
X
Jiao
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China. xfliu@yzu.edu.cn.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China. xfliu@yzu.edu.cn.|Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China. xfliu@yzu.edu.cn.
Xiufan
X
Liu
D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000821:virology; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D011991:Receptors, Virus