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Published online: 7 January 2007; | doi:10.1038/nm1529
Tropism of avian influenza A (H5N1) in the upper and lower respiratory tract
J M Nicholls1, M C W Chan2, W Y Chan2, H K Wong2, C Y Cheung2, D L W Kwong3, M P Wong1, W H Chui4, L L M Poon2, S W Tsao5, Y Guan2 & J S M Peiris2
1 Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
2 Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
3 Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
4 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Grantham Hospital, Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, Hong Kong SAR, China.
5 Department of Anatomy, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Correspondence should be addressed to J M NichollsJ S M Peiris nicholls@pathology.hku.hk or malik@hkucc.hku.hk
Poor human-to-human transmission of influenza A H5N1 virus has been attributed to the paucity of putative sialic acid 2-3 virus receptors in the epithelium of the human upper respiratory tract, and thus to the presumed inability of the virus to replicate efficiently at this site. We now demonstrate that ex vivo cultures of human nasopharyngeal, adenoid and tonsillar tissues can be infected with H5N1 viruses in spite of an apparent lack of these receptors.
source: http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vao...bs/nm1529.html
Tropism of avian influenza A (H5N1) in the upper and lower respiratory tract
J M Nicholls1, M C W Chan2, W Y Chan2, H K Wong2, C Y Cheung2, D L W Kwong3, M P Wong1, W H Chui4, L L M Poon2, S W Tsao5, Y Guan2 & J S M Peiris2
1 Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
2 Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
3 Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
4 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Grantham Hospital, Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, Hong Kong SAR, China.
5 Department of Anatomy, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Correspondence should be addressed to J M NichollsJ S M Peiris nicholls@pathology.hku.hk or malik@hkucc.hku.hk
Poor human-to-human transmission of influenza A H5N1 virus has been attributed to the paucity of putative sialic acid 2-3 virus receptors in the epithelium of the human upper respiratory tract, and thus to the presumed inability of the virus to replicate efficiently at this site. We now demonstrate that ex vivo cultures of human nasopharyngeal, adenoid and tonsillar tissues can be infected with H5N1 viruses in spite of an apparent lack of these receptors.
source: http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vao...bs/nm1529.html
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