Flu viruses can use a second entry pathway to infect cells

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  1. Sly Saint

    Sly Saint Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Flu viruses can use a second entry pathway to infect cells (msn.com)

    H2N2

    MHC class II proteins mediate sialic acid independent entry of human and avian H2N2 influenza A viruses
    Abstract
    Influenza A viruses (IAV) pose substantial burden on human and animal health. Avian, swine and human IAV bind sialic acid on host glycans as receptor, whereas some bat IAV require MHC class II complexes for cell entry. It is unknown how this difference evolved and whether dual receptor specificity is possible. Here we show that human H2N2 IAV and related avian H2N2 possess dual receptor specificity in cell lines and primary human airway cultures. Using sialylation-deficient cells, we reveal that entry via MHC class II is independent of sialic acid. We find that MHC class II from humans, pigs, ducks, swans and chickens but not bats can mediate H2 IAV entry and that this is conserved in Eurasian avian H2. Our results demonstrate that IAV can possess dual receptor specificity for sialic acid and MHC class II, and suggest a role for MHC class II-dependent entry in zoonotic IAV infections.
    MHC class II proteins mediate sialic acid independent entry of human and avian H2N2 influenza A viruses | Nature Microbiology
     
    Sean, Kitty, Peter Trewhitt and 3 others like this.
  2. Sly Saint

    Sly Saint Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Sean, Kitty, Peter Trewhitt and 4 others like this.

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