Expression patterns of influenza virus receptors in the respiratory tracts of four species of poultry.
- Author:
Ji Eun YU
1
;
Hakyoung YOON
;
Hyun Jeong LEE
;
Jong Hwan LEE
;
Byung Joon CHANG
;
Chang Seon SONG
;
Sang Soep NAHM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords: influenza receptors; interspecies transmission; lectin histochemistry; respiratory tracts
- MeSH: Animals; Cell Membrane/metabolism/virology; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/metabolism; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Influenza A virus/*metabolism; Influenza in Birds/metabolism/transmission; Lectins/metabolism; Poultry/metabolism/*virology; Poultry Diseases/metabolism; Receptors, Cell Surface/analysis/chemistry/metabolism; Receptors, Virus/*analysis/metabolism; Respiratory System/*chemistry; Sialic Acids/metabolism; Species Specificity; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science 2011;12(1):7-13
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: The primary determinant of influenza virus infectivity is the type of linkage between sialic acid and oligosaccharides on the host cells. Hemagglutinin of avian influenza viruses preferentially binds to sialic acids linked to galactose by an alpha-2,3 linkage whereas hemagglutinin of human influenza viruses binds to sialic acids with an alpha-2,6 linkage. The distribution patterns of influenza receptors in the avian respiratory tracts are of particular interest because these are important for initial viral attachment, replication, and transmission to other species. In this study, we examined the distribution patterns of influenza receptors in the respiratory tract of chickens, ducks, pheasants, and quails because these species have been known to act as intermediate hosts in interspecies transmission. Lectin histochemistry was performed to detect receptor-bearing cells. Cell-specific distribution of the receptors was determined and expression densities were compared. We observed species-, site-, and cell-specific variations in receptor expression. In general, receptor expression was the highest in quails and lowest in ducks. Pheasants and quails had abundant expression of both types of receptors throughout the respiratory tract. These results indicate that pheasants and quails may play important roles as intermediate hosts for the generation of influenza viruses with pandemic potential.
