Loss of a single N-linked glycan from the hemagglutinin of influenza virus is associated with resistance to collectins and increased virulence in mice

PC Reading; DL Pickett; MD Tate; PG Whitney; ER Job; AG Brooks

Journal article

Loss of a single N-linked glycan from the hemagglutinin of influenza virus is associated with resistance to collectins and increased virulence in mice

PC Reading, DL Pickett, MD Tate, PG Whitney, ER Job, AG Brooks

Respiratory Research | Published : 2009

DOI: 10.1186/1465-9921-10-117

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Abstract

Background: Glycosylation on the globular head of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of influenza virus acts as an important target for recognition and destruction of virus by innate immune proteins of the collectin family. This, in turn, modulates the virulence of different viruses for mice. The role of particular oligosaccharide attachments on the HA in determining sensitivity to collectins has yet to be fully elucidated.Methods: When comparing the virulence of H3N2 subtype viruses for mice we found that viruses isolated after 1980 were highly glycosylated and induced mild disease in mice. During these studies, we were surprised to find a small plaque variant of strain A/Beijing/353/89 (Beij/8..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Patrick Reading Author

Andrew Brooks Author

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Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Project Grant # 400226 from The National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) of Australia. PCR is a NH&MRC R. D. Wright Research Fellow. The Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.