Premium
Adaptation of avian influenza A (H6N1) virus from avian to human receptor‐binding preference
Author(s) -
Wang Fei,
Qi Jianxun,
Bi Yuhai,
Zhang Wei,
Wang Min,
Zhang Baorong,
Wang Ming,
Liu Jinhua,
Yan Jinghua,
Shi Yi,
Gao George F
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.201590960
Subject(s) - biology , influenza a virus subtype h5n1 , adaptation (eye) , preference , influenza a virus , virus , avian influenza virus , zoology , receptor , virology , ecology , genetics , neuroscience , economics , microeconomics
The receptor‐binding specificity of influenza A viruses is a major determinant for the host tropism of the virus, which enables interspecies transmission. In 2013, the first human case of infection with avian influenza A (H6N1) virus was reported in Taiwan. To gather evidence concerning the epidemic potential of H6 subtype viruses, we performed comprehensive analysis of receptor‐binding properties of Taiwan‐isolated H6 HA s from 1972 to 2013. We propose that the receptor‐binding properties of Taiwan‐isolated H6 HA s have undergone three major stages: initially avian receptor‐binding preference, secondarily obtaining human receptor‐binding capacity, and recently human receptor‐binding preference, which has been confirmed by receptor‐binding assessment of three representative virus isolates. Mutagenesis work revealed that E190V and G228S substitutions are important to acquire the human receptor‐binding capacity, and the P186L substitution could reduce the binding to avian receptor. Further structural analysis revealed how the P186L substitution in the receptor‐binding site of HA determines the receptor‐binding preference change. We conclude that the human‐infecting H6N1 evolved into a human receptor preference.