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Brief Communications
Nature 440, 435-436 (23 March 2006) | doi:10.1038/440435a; Received 12 February 2006; Accepted 9 March 2006; Published online 22 March 2006
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Avian flu: Influenza virus receptors in the human airway
Kyoko Shinya1,2,4,8, Masahito Ebina5, Shinya Yamada2, Masao Ono6, Noriyuki Kasai4 & Yoshihiro Kawaoka1,2,3,7
Abstract
Avian and human flu viruses seem to target different regions of a patient's respiratory tract.
Abstract
Although more than 100 people have been infected by H5N1 influenza A viruses, human-to-human transmission is rare1. What are the molecular barriers limiting human-to-human transmission? Here we demonstrate an anatomical difference in the distribution in the human airway of the different binding molecules preferred by the avian and human influenza viruses. The respective molecules are sialic acid linked to galactose by an 
-2,3 linkage (SA2,3Gal) and by an -2,6 linkage (SA2,6Gal)2. Our findings may provide a rational explanation for why H5N1 viruses at present rarely infect and spread between humans although they can replicate efficiently in the lungs.
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