The role of receptor binding specificity in interspecies transmission of influenza viruses

• Published in: Current opinion in virology Vol. 2; no. 2; pp. 160 - 167
• Main Authors: Imai, Masaki, Kawaoka, Yoshihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.04.2012
• Subjects: Animals; Birds; Fowl plague; Glycoproteins; Hemagglutinins; Humans; Infection; Influenza A; Influenza A virus; Influenza A virus - genetics; Influenza A virus - metabolism; Influenza in Birds - genetics; Influenza in Birds - metabolism; Influenza in Birds - transmission; Influenza in Birds - virology; Influenza, Human - genetics; Influenza, Human - metabolism; Influenza, Human - transmission; Influenza, Human - virology; Protein Binding; Receptors, Virus - genetics; Receptors, Virus - metabolism; Reviews; Species Specificity
• ISSN: 1879-6257; 1879-6265; 1879-6265
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2012.03.003

► The hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza viruses mediates receptor binding. ► Receptor binding specificity is a major determinant of host range restriction. ► Avian influenza viruses do not transmit efficiently from human to human. ► Changes in binding specificity are required for cross-species transfer. 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.