Avian Influenza H5-Containing Virus-Like Particles (VLPs): Host-Cell Receptor Specificity by STD NMR Spectroscopy

摘要

H5N1 influenza virus is a highly contagious pathogen infecting poultry and other birds. The emergence of a human pandemic influenza virus from an avian progenitor appears to involve a switch in preferential binding of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) from α(2,3)-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid containing glycans (the major form in the avian enteric tract) to α(2,6)-linked N-acetylneuramimc acid containing glycans (the major form in the human upper respiratory tract). Avian influenza viruses such as the H3 virus HA receptor typically contain the amino acids Gln226 and Gly228, which create a narrow binding pocket favoring α(2,3)-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid containing glycans. A number of other studies have also investigated HA-glycan recognition.