The substrates for the isolation of swine influenza viruses (SIVs) were shown to affect the receptor specificity of the isolated viruses; a virus isolated from Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells retained its specificity to alpha-2,6-linked sialic acid, while the specificity toward the alpha-2,3-linkage was increased in a virus isolated from embryonated chicken eggs. Since the amino acid sequence of the hemagglutinin protein, a viral ligand to the host cells, of MDCK isolates was the same as that obtained directly from the virus presented in the clinical specimen, we suggest that isolation of SIV from MDCK cells is preferable.
(Research Team for Zoonotic Diseases, TEL +81-29-838-7708)
Reference:
Takemae, N. et al. (2010) J. Gen. Virol. 91(4):938-948.
