The pattern of influenza virus attachment varies among wild bird species

• The ability to attach to host cells is one of the main determinants of the host range of influenza A viruses. By using virus histochemistry, we investigate the pattern of virus attachment of both a human and an avian influenza virus in colon and trachea sections from 12 wild bird species. We show that significant variations exist, even between closely related avian species, which suggests that the ability of wild birds to serve as hosts for influenza viruses strongly varies among species. These results will prove valuable to assess the possibilities of interspecies transmission of influenza viruses in natural environments and better understand the ecology of influenza.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Mikrobiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Microbiology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

lower respiratory-tract

sialic-acid receptors

a virus

binding-sites

hemagglutinin

ducks

host

replication

specificity

infection

Mikrobiologi

Microbiology

Zoonotisk ekologi

Zoonotic Ecology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)