C-type lectins are important molecules of the innate immune system. These molecules, like surfactant protein D (SP-D) can recognize glycans on pathogens and neutralize these. Also influenza viruses are recognized by SP-D and their susceptibility to neutralization by SP-D is dependent on the number of N-linked glycosylation sites in the hemagglutinin in particular. Porcine SP-D displayed stronger neutralizing activity to human influenza A viruses than to swine influenza A viruses. Although viruses from these species differ with regard to the number of glycosylation sites in the hemagglutinin, the mechanism underlying the differential recognition by porcine SP-D is poorly understood. Here we investigated the molecular basis for the differential recognition of a seasonal H1N1 and a 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus by porcine SP-D. We demonstrated that the number and position of glycosylation sites determine viral susceptibility to the neutralizing activity of porcine SP-D. However, predicting the effect remains difficult as it was shown to be dependent on the strain and the position of the glycosylation sites.

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doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2012.08.003, hdl.handle.net/1765/39023
Virus Research
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Hillaire, M., van Eijk, M., Nieuwkoop, N., Vogelzang-van Trierum, S., Fouchier, R., Osterhaus, A., … Rimmelzwaan, G. (2012). The number and position of N-linked glycosylation sites in the hemagglutinin determine differential recognition of seasonal and 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus by porcine surfactant protein D. Virus Research, 169(1), 301–305. doi:10.1016/j.virusres.2012.08.003