The avian influenza A virus receptor SA-α2,3-Gal is expressed in the porcine nasal mucosa sustaining the pig as a mixing vessel for new influenza viruses.

ABSTRACT: Influenza A viruses (IAVs) originate from wild birds but have on several occasions jumped host barriers and are now also circulating in humans and mammals. The IAV host receptors (glycans with galactose linked to a sialic acid (SA) in an α2,3 or α2,6 linkage) are crucial host factors restricting inter-species transmission. In general, avian-origin IAVs show a preference for SA-α2,3 (avian receptor), whereas IAVs isolated from humans and pigs prefer SA-α2,6 (human receptor). N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) are the two major SAs. Neu5Ac is expressed in all species, whereas Neu5Gc is only expressed in a limited number of domestic species such as pigs and horses, but not in humans. Despite that previous studies have shown that the IAV host receptor distr

SUBMITTER: Kristensen C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10793167 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature