Findings from Japan Science and Technology Corporation broaden understanding of influenza
2008 JAN 22 -- Investigators publish new data in the report 'Binding kinetics of influenza viruses to sialic acid-containing carbohydrates.' "To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of transmission of influenza viruses between different host species, such as human and birds, binding properties of sialic acid-containing carbohydrates that are recognized by human and/or avian influenza viruses were characterized by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method. Differences in the binding of influenza viruses to three gangliosides were monitored in real-time and correlated with receptor specificity between avian and human viruses," researchers in Shizuoka, Japan report. "SPR analysis with ganglioside-containing lipid bilayers demonstrated the recognition profile of influenza viruses to not only sialic acid linkages, but also core carbohydrate structures on the basis of equilibrated rate constants. Kinetic analysis showed different binding preferences to gangliosides between avian and human strains. An avian strain bound to Neu5Acalpha2-3nLc4Cer with much slower dissociation rate than its sialyl-linkage analog, Neu5Acalpha2-6nLc4Cer, on the lipid bilayer. In contrast, a human strain bound equally to both gangliosides. An avian strain, but not a human strain, also interacted with GM3 carrying a shorter carbohydrate chain," wrote K.I. Hidari and colleagues, Japan Science and Technology Corporation. The researchers concluded: "Our findings demonstrated the remarkable distinction in the binding kinetics of sialic acid-containing carbohydrates between avian and human influenza viruses on the lipid bilayer." Hidari and colleagues published their study in Glycoconjugate Journal (Binding kinetics of influenza viruses to sialic acid-containing carbohydrates. Glycoconjugate Journal, 2007;24(9):583-90). For additional information, contact K.I. Hidari, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dept. of Biochemistry, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Corporation, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, Japan. Publisher contact information for the Glycoconjugate Journal is: Kluwer Academic Publ, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands. Keywords: Japan, Shizuoka, Avian Flu, Avian Influenza, Avian Influenza Virus, Bird Flu, Cognition, Viral Research, Virology. This article was prepared by World Disease Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, World Disease Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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