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Monitoring influenza virus receptor binding changes by
biophysical and structural analyses
Alex Xiaoli Xiong
Abstract
Influenza viruses currently established in the population are believed to originate from
zoonotic influenza viruses through human adaptation. To complete this process, switch of
viral haemagglutinin (HA) specificity from human to avian type, mediated by HA mutations,
is believed to be a major determinant. Thus it is important to characterize the receptor
binding properties of newly emergent viruses to predict their pandemic potential. A biolayer
interferometry assay has been developed to quantitate influenza virus binding. This method
has allowed us to measure receptor binding changes during the evolutions of H3N2, H5N1,
and H7N9 subtypes. Together with the binding assay results, structural analyses of
haemagglutinin-receptor complexes revealed multiple mechanisms of receptor binding change.
These results highlight the complexity and plasticity of the receptor binding site during
influenza virus evolution.
Communications (Institute, address, email)
Division of Virology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, UK
[email protected]
Education
BSc University of Bristol
PhD University of Bristol
Research Interests
Virology and structural biology of orthomyxoviruses
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Lin, Y. P.*, Xiong, X.*, Wharton, S. A., Martin, S. R., Coombs, P. J., Vachieri, S. G., Christodoulou, E.,
Walker, P. A., Liu, J., Skehel, J. J., Gamblin, S. J., Hay, A. J., Daniels, R. S. & McCauley, J. W.
2012. Evolution of the receptor binding properties of the influenza A(H3N2) hemagglutinin. Proc
Natl Acad Sci U S A, 109, 21474-9.
*These authors contributed equally to the project.
Xiong, X.*, Coombs, P. J.*, Martin, S. R.*, Liu, J., Xiao, H., McCauley, J. W., Locher, K., Walker, P.
A., Collins, P. J., Kawaoka, Y., Skehel, J. J. & Gamblin, S. J. 2013. Receptor binding by a
ferret-transmissible H5 avian influenza virus. Nature, 497, 392-6.
*These authors contributed equally to the project.
Xiong, X., Martin, S. R., Haire, L. F., Wharton, S. A., Daniels, R. S., Bennett, M. S., McCauley, J. W.,
Collins, P. J., Walker, P. A., Skehel, J. J. & Gamblin, S. J. 2013. Receptor binding by an H7N9
influenza virus from humans. Nature, 499, 496-9.