Ferrets exclusively synthesize Neu5Ac and express naturally humanized influenza A virus receptors

Ng, P. S.K. et al. (2014) Ferrets exclusively synthesize Neu5Ac and express naturally humanized influenza A virus receptors. Nature Communications, 5, (doi: 10.1038/ncomms6750)

Abstract

Mammals express the sialic acids ​N-acetylneuraminic acid (​Neu5Ac) and ​N-glycolylneuraminic acid (​Neu5Gc) on cell surfaces, where they act as receptors for pathogens, including influenza A virus (IAV). ​Neu5Gc is synthesized from ​Neu5Ac by the enzyme cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH). In humans, this enzyme is inactive and only ​Neu5Ac is produced. Ferrets are susceptible to human-adapted IAV strains and have been the dominant animal model for IAV studies. Here we show that ferrets, like humans, do not synthesize ​Neu5Gc. Genomic analysis reveals an ancient, nine-exon deletion in the ferret CMAH gene that is shared by the Pinnipedia and Musteloidia members of the Carnivora. Interactions between two human strains of IAV with the sialyllactose receptor (sialic acid—α2,6Gal) confirm that the type of terminal sialic acid contributes significantly to IAV receptor specificity. Our results indicate that exclusive expression of ​Neu5Ac contributes to the susceptibility of ferrets to human-adapted IAV strains.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Grimmond, Professor Sean
• Authors: Ng, P. S.K., Böhm, R., Hartley-Tassell, L. E., Steen, J. A., Wang, H., Lukowski, S. W., Hawthorne, P. L., Trezise, A. E.O., Coloe, P. J., Grimmond, S. M., Haselhorst, T., von Itzstein, M., Paton, A. W., Paton, J. C., and Jennings, M. P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: Nature Communications
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• ISSN (Online): 2041-1723
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited
• First Published: First published in Nature Communications 5:5750
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License