Novel H5 clade 2.3.4.6 viruses with both α-2,3 and α-2,6 receptor binding properties may pose a pandemic threat

• DOI: 10.1186/s13567-014-0127-2
• Publication Date: 2014-12-16T14:19:32Z
• Authors: Qunhui Li; Xuan Wang; Min Gu; Jie Zhu; Xiaoli Hao; Zhao Gao; Zhongtao Sun; Jiao Hu; Shunlin Hu; Xiaoquan Wang; Xiaowen Liu; Xiufan Liu
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; China; [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; Guinea Pigs; Molecular Sequence Data; Short Report; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; Sequence Analysis, DNA; veterinary(all); 3. Good health; [SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio]; 03 medical and health sciences; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Influenza A virus; Mucolipidoses; Animals; Pandemics; Poultry Diseases

The emerging H5 clade 2.3.4.6 viruses of different NA subtypes have been detected in different domestic poultry in China. We evaluated the receptor binding property and transmissibility of four novel H5 clade 2.3.4.6 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. The results show that these viruses bound to both avian-type (α-2,3) and human-type (α-2,6) receptors. Furthermore, we found that one of these viruses, GS/EC/1112/11, not only replicated but also transmitted efficiently in guinea pigs. Therefore, such novel H5 subtype viruses have the potential of a pandemic threat.