tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
The pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus is resistant to mannose-binding lectin
Hirotoshi Tokunaga, Hiroshi Ushirogawa and Masanobu Ohuchi
*
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Virology Journal 2011, 8:50 doi:10.1186/1743-422X-8-50
Published: 4 February 2011
Abstract
Background
Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an important component of innate immunity because it promotes bacterial clearance and neutralization of human influenza A viruses. Since a majority of humans have no neutralizing antibody against the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza (pandemic 2009) virus, innate immunity may be crucial and MBL susceptibility may therefore influence viral pathogenesis.
Results
We examined MBL susceptibility of influenza A viruses and observed that the pandemic 2009 virus was resistant to MBL, whereas all seasonal influenza A viruses tested were susceptible. The mortality of mice infected with a seasonal H1N1 influenza virus was evidently enhanced on transient blockage of MBL activity by simultaneous inoculation of mannan, whereas mannan inoculation had no effect on mice infected with a pandemic 2009 virus. This indicates that MBL protects mice against infection with the seasonal virus but not against that with the pandemic 2009 virus.
Conclusions
These results indicate that the pandemic 2009 virus is not susceptible to MBL, an important component of innate immunity.
http://www.virologyj.com/content/pdf/1743-422X-8-50.pdf
Hirotoshi Tokunaga, Hiroshi Ushirogawa and Masanobu Ohuchi
*
For all author emails, please log on.
Virology Journal 2011, 8:50 doi:10.1186/1743-422X-8-50
Published: 4 February 2011
Abstract
Background
Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an important component of innate immunity because it promotes bacterial clearance and neutralization of human influenza A viruses. Since a majority of humans have no neutralizing antibody against the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza (pandemic 2009) virus, innate immunity may be crucial and MBL susceptibility may therefore influence viral pathogenesis.
Results
We examined MBL susceptibility of influenza A viruses and observed that the pandemic 2009 virus was resistant to MBL, whereas all seasonal influenza A viruses tested were susceptible. The mortality of mice infected with a seasonal H1N1 influenza virus was evidently enhanced on transient blockage of MBL activity by simultaneous inoculation of mannan, whereas mannan inoculation had no effect on mice infected with a pandemic 2009 virus. This indicates that MBL protects mice against infection with the seasonal virus but not against that with the pandemic 2009 virus.
Conclusions
These results indicate that the pandemic 2009 virus is not susceptible to MBL, an important component of innate immunity.
http://www.virologyj.com/content/pdf/1743-422X-8-50.pdf