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Nature 444, 378-382 (16 November 2006) | doi:10.1038/nature05264;

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Haemagglutinin mutations responsible for the binding of H5N1 influenza A viruses to human-type receptors

H5N1 influenza A viruses have spread to numerous countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, infecting not only large numbers of poultry, but also an increasing number of humans, often with lethal effects. Human and avian influenza A viruses differ in their recognition of host cell receptors: the former preferentially recognize receptors with saccharides terminating in sialic acid-|[agr]|2,6-galactose (SA|[agr]|2,6Gal), whereas the latter prefer those ending in SA|[agr]|2,3Gal (refs 3–6).

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