Kajiwara N, Nomura N, Ukaji M, Yamamoto N, Kohara. Cell-penetrating peptide-mediated cell entry of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 22;10(1):18008
H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) poses a huge threat to public health and the global economy. These viruses cause systemic infection in poultry and accidental human infection leads to severe pneumonia, associated with high mortality rates. The hemagglutinin (HA) of H5N1 HPAIV possesses multiple basic amino acids, as in the sequence RERRRKKR at the cleavage site; however, the role of this motif is not fully understood. Here, we showed that a 33-amino acid long peptide derived from HA of H5N1 HPAIV (HA314-46) has the potential to penetrate various cells and lung tissue through a sialic acid-independent endocytotic pathway. Mutant peptide analyses revealed that the cysteine residue at position 318 and multiple basic amino acids were essential for the cell-penetrating activity. Moreover, reassortant viruses possessing H5 HA could enter sialic acid-deficient cells, and virus internalisation was facilitated by cleavage with recombinant furin. Thus, our findings demonstrate that the HA314-46 motif exhibits cell-penetrating activity through a sialic acid-independent cell entry mechanism.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Evolutionary Events Promoted Polymerase Activity of H13N8 Avian Influenza Virus 3 hours ago
- Cross-Species Transmission Potential of H4 Avian Influenza Viruses in China: Epidemiological and Evolutionary Study 3 hours ago
- Wild Bird-Origin H6N2 Influenza Virus Acquires Enhanced Pathogenicity after Single Passage in Mice 3 hours ago
- Genetics of H5N1 and H5N8 High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated in Japan in Winter 2021-2022 3 hours ago
- Avian H6 Influenza Viruses in Vietnamese Live Bird Markets during 2018-2021 3 hours ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]