Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026
13:00
Engineering Antiviral Agents via Surface Plasmon Resonance
Published on: June 14, 2022
2.2K
[Function of glycochains in virus infection]
1Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka.
Summary
Influenza A virus (IAV) replication and pandemic potential are influenced by hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) functions. Glycoscience reveals how HA-sulfatide interactions and NA
Area of Science:
- Glycovirology: Investigating the role of host cell surface glycans in viral replication and pathogenesis.
- Molecular Virology: Analyzing the functions of influenza A virus (IAV) envelope glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA).
Context:
- Influenza A virus (IAV) poses a pandemic threat through novel subtypes with altered hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) antigenicities.
- IAV utilizes host cell surface sialic acids as receptors via HA binding and cleaves them using NA enzymatic activity.
Purpose:
- To elucidate the glycoscience mechanisms underlying IAV replication and pandemic potential.
- To investigate the functional roles of HA and NA in IAV pathogenesis.
Summary:
- Pandemic IAV neuraminidase (NA) exhibits low pH-stable sialidase activity, enhancing viral replication, potentially contributing to past pandemics.
- Hemagglutinin (HA) binding to host cell sulfatides, independent of sialic acid, promotes viral replication and progeny formation.
- Specific HA binding to N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), present in pigs, may facilitate human IAV pandemics via genetic reassortment.
Impact:
- Identified key amino acid residues in HA responsible for Neu5Gc binding, crucial for understanding pandemic risk.
- Developed novel techniques for detecting IAV receptor specificity and infected cells, aiding in pandemic surveillance.
- Provides new insights into IAV replication and pandemic potential through a glycovirology perspective.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:14Glycocalyx and its Functions
9.1K
The glycocalyx is a carbohydrate-rich, fuzzy-appearing layer on the outer surface of the cell membrane. It is highly hydrophilic, because of this it attracts large amounts of water to the cell's surface. This aids the cell's interaction with the watery environment and also helps it to obtain substances dissolved in the water. It is also important for cell identification, self/non-self determination, and embryonic development and is used in cell-to-cell attachments to form tissues.
9.1K
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
2.3K
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
2.3K
02:50Conjugated Proteins
21.0K
Simple proteins and protein complexes contain only amino acids. In contrast, many other proteins, called conjugated proteins, covalently bond with non-protein moieties.
Nucleoproteins are protein complexes that contain nucleic acids, categorized as deoxyribonucleoproteins (DNPs) or ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) respectively. The nucleosome is a typical example of a DNP where nuclear DNA is associated with histone proteins. The major antigen for the Covid-19 virus SARS-CoV is an RNP that is critical...
Nucleoproteins are protein complexes that contain nucleic acids, categorized as deoxyribonucleoproteins (DNPs) or ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) respectively. The nucleosome is a typical example of a DNP where nuclear DNA is associated with histone proteins. The major antigen for the Covid-19 virus SARS-CoV is an RNP that is critical...
21.0K
00:56Viral Structure
58.7K
Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
58.7K
01:25Protein Glycosylation
8.3K
Glycosylation, the most common post-translational modification for proteins, serves diverse functions. Adding sugars to proteins makes the proteins more resistant to proteolytic digestion. Glycosylated proteins can act as markers and receptors to promote cell-cell adhesion. Additionally, they have many essential quality control functions in the cell, such as correct protein folding and facilitating transport of misfolded proteins to the cytosol, which can be degraded.
Glycosylation occurs in...
Glycosylation occurs in...
8.3K
01:21Matrix Proteoglycans and Glycoproteins
4.3K
Proteoglycans are extensively glycosylated proteins, commonly found in the extracellular matrix, interwoven with collagen fibers. Hyaline cartilage, the most common type of cartilage in the body, consists of short and dispersed collagen fibers associated with large amounts of proteoglycans. These proteoglycans have long negative charges that attract cations, which in turn attract water molecules. This influx of ions and water molecules swells up the proteoglycan like a water-soaked gel that can...
4.3K