Loss and gain of N-linked glycosylation sites in globular head and stem of HA found in A/H3N2 flu fatal and severe cases during 2013 Tunisia flu seasonal survey

Virus Genes. 2014 Feb;48(1):189-92. doi: 10.1007/s11262-013-0993-0. Epub 2013 Oct 31.

Abstract

Glycosylation on the globular head of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of influenza virus acts as an important target for recognition and destruction of virus by innate immune proteins of the collectin family. In the current study, we have characterized the dynamic amino acid changes at N-linked glycosylation sites of full length sequences of HA genes of 5 A/H3N2 Tunisian strains isolates from mild, severe, and fatal cases. Compared to the reference strain, A/Perth/16/2009 substitutions in potential N-glycosylation sites were observed in 5 HA genes at five different positions (45, 124, 128, 144, and 145) generating the losses and gains of N-linked glycosylation sites. Also the mutation N145S was presented in the receptor-binding site of all segments analyzed. Point mutations in several positions in the gene encoding the H3 of Tunisian strains were shown to ablate a glycan attachment site and also loss of a potential glycosylation site. The relation between these mutations and virulence of influenza A/H3N2 virus needed to be verified in the further experiments.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Glycosylation*
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / genetics*
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / genetics*
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / pathology
  • Influenza, Human / virology*
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutant Proteins / genetics
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Point Mutation*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Tunisia / epidemiology
  • Virulence
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus
  • Mutant Proteins
  • RNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KC999473
  • GENBANK/KC999474
  • GENBANK/KC999475
  • GENBANK/KC999476
  • GENBANK/KC999477