Prediction of avian influenza A binding preference to human receptor using conformational analysis of receptor bound to hemagglutinin

摘要

BackgroundIt is known that the highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus H5N1 binds strongly and with high specificity to the avian-type receptor by its hemagglutinin surface protein. This specificity is normally a barrier to viral transmission from birds to humans. However, strains may emerge with mutated hemagglutinin, potentially changing the receptor binding preference from avian to human-type. This hypothesis has been proven correct, since viral isolates from Vietnam and Thailand have been found which have increased selectivity toward the human cell receptor. The change in binding preference is due to mutation, which can be computationally modelled. The aim of this study is to further explore whether computational simulation could be used as a prediction tool for host type selectivity in emerging variants.