Glycosylation as a target for recognition of influenza viruses by the innate immune system

Abstract

Glycosylation clearly plays an important role in the life cycle of influenza viruses and certain glycosylation sites are required for the structural integrity and stability of the HA and NA glycoproteins during biosynthesis and formation of intact virions. Furthermore, glycosylation has been shown to modulate the functions of influenza glycoproteins, in particular the recognition of host cell receptors and in shielding antigenic epitopes on the viral HA. The addition of oligosaccharide moieties to the globular head of the HA does, however, correlate with an increased sensitivity to the antiviral activities of SP-D and to recognition and destruction of virus via the MMR on murine macrophages...