Receptor-binding specificity and antigenic properties of a genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) influenza virus isolated from a human

Ahmed Kandeil; Pradeep Chopra; Sean D Ray; Balasaheb K Ghotekar; Charlene Ranadheera; Trushar Jeevan; Thomas Fabrizio; Adam Rubrum; Geert-Jan Boons; Stephen Mark Tompkins; Nathalie Bastien; Richard J Webby

doi:10.1080/22221751.2026.2645856

Receptor-binding specificity and antigenic properties of a genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) influenza virus isolated from a human

Ahmed Kandeil
, Pradeep Chopra
, Sean D Ray
, Balasaheb K Ghotekar
, Charlene Ranadheera
, Trushar Jeevan
, Thomas Fabrizio
, Adam Rubrum
, Geert-Jan Boons
, Stephen Mark Tompkins
, Nathalie Bastien
, Richard J Webby

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
University of Georgia
Complex Carbohydrate Research Center
Public Health Agency of Canada

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) influenza viruses continue to expand their host range and pose increasing public health concerns. A case of severe human infection with genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) with HÀ substitutions was diagnosed in British Columbia. It is important to monitor receptor-binding specificity and antigenicity of emerging variants of circulating influenza A(H5N1) viruses. To evaluate potential human adaptation of this virus, we enriched HA-variant subpopulations and assessed sialic acid receptor usage via glycan microarray, solid-phase assays, and biolayer interferometry. All variants bound exclusively to avian-type sialic acid receptors. The antigenicity of the tested A(H5N1) variants was covered by candidate vaccine viruses.

Original language	English
Article number	2645856
Journal	Emerging microbes & infections
Volume	15
Issue number	1
Early online date	13 Mar 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2026.2645856
Publication status	Published - 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group, on behalf of Shanghai Shangyixun Cultural Communication Co., Ltd.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

H5N1
Hemagglutinin
Influenza
emerging variants
receptor-binding specificity

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10.1080/22221751.2026.2645856Licence: CC BY-NC

Receptor-binding specificity and antigenic properties of a genotype D1.1 A H5N1 influenza virus isolated from a humanFinal published version, 883 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

Kandeil, A., Chopra, P., Ray, S. D., Ghotekar, B. K., Ranadheera, C., Jeevan, T., Fabrizio, T., Rubrum, A., Boons, G.-J., Tompkins, S. M., Bastien, N., & Webby, R. J. (2026). Receptor-binding specificity and antigenic properties of a genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) influenza virus isolated from a human. Emerging microbes & infections, 15(1), Article 2645856. https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2026.2645856

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title = "Receptor-binding specificity and antigenic properties of a genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) influenza virus isolated from a human",

abstract = "Clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) influenza viruses continue to expand their host range and pose increasing public health concerns. A case of severe human infection with genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) with H{\`A} substitutions was diagnosed in British Columbia. It is important to monitor receptor-binding specificity and antigenicity of emerging variants of circulating influenza A(H5N1) viruses. To evaluate potential human adaptation of this virus, we enriched HA-variant subpopulations and assessed sialic acid receptor usage via glycan microarray, solid-phase assays, and biolayer interferometry. All variants bound exclusively to avian-type sialic acid receptors. The antigenicity of the tested A(H5N1) variants was covered by candidate vaccine viruses.",

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author = "Ahmed Kandeil and Pradeep Chopra and Ray, \{Sean D\} and Ghotekar, \{Balasaheb K\} and Charlene Ranadheera and Trushar Jeevan and Thomas Fabrizio and Adam Rubrum and Geert-Jan Boons and Tompkins, \{Stephen Mark\} and Nathalie Bastien and Webby, \{Richard J\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor \& Francis Group, on behalf of Shanghai Shangyixun Cultural Communication Co., Ltd.",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1080/22221751.2026.2645856",

language = "English",

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Kandeil, A, Chopra, P, Ray, SD, Ghotekar, BK, Ranadheera, C, Jeevan, T, Fabrizio, T, Rubrum, A, Boons, G-J, Tompkins, SM, Bastien, N & Webby, RJ 2026, 'Receptor-binding specificity and antigenic properties of a genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) influenza virus isolated from a human', Emerging microbes & infections, vol. 15, no. 1, 2645856. https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2026.2645856

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T1 - Receptor-binding specificity and antigenic properties of a genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) influenza virus isolated from a human

AU - Kandeil, Ahmed

AU - Chopra, Pradeep

AU - Ray, Sean D

AU - Ghotekar, Balasaheb K

AU - Ranadheera, Charlene

AU - Jeevan, Trushar

AU - Fabrizio, Thomas

AU - Rubrum, Adam

AU - Boons, Geert-Jan

AU - Tompkins, Stephen Mark

AU - Bastien, Nathalie

AU - Webby, Richard J

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) influenza viruses continue to expand their host range and pose increasing public health concerns. A case of severe human infection with genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) with HÀ substitutions was diagnosed in British Columbia. It is important to monitor receptor-binding specificity and antigenicity of emerging variants of circulating influenza A(H5N1) viruses. To evaluate potential human adaptation of this virus, we enriched HA-variant subpopulations and assessed sialic acid receptor usage via glycan microarray, solid-phase assays, and biolayer interferometry. All variants bound exclusively to avian-type sialic acid receptors. The antigenicity of the tested A(H5N1) variants was covered by candidate vaccine viruses.

AB - Clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) influenza viruses continue to expand their host range and pose increasing public health concerns. A case of severe human infection with genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) with HÀ substitutions was diagnosed in British Columbia. It is important to monitor receptor-binding specificity and antigenicity of emerging variants of circulating influenza A(H5N1) viruses. To evaluate potential human adaptation of this virus, we enriched HA-variant subpopulations and assessed sialic acid receptor usage via glycan microarray, solid-phase assays, and biolayer interferometry. All variants bound exclusively to avian-type sialic acid receptors. The antigenicity of the tested A(H5N1) variants was covered by candidate vaccine viruses.

KW - H5N1

KW - Hemagglutinin

KW - Influenza

KW - emerging variants

KW - receptor-binding specificity

U2 - 10.1080/22221751.2026.2645856

DO - 10.1080/22221751.2026.2645856

M3 - Article

C2 - 41824556

SN - 2222-1751

VL - 15

JO - Emerging microbes & infections

JF - Emerging microbes & infections

IS - 1

M1 - 2645856

ER -

Receptor-binding specificity and antigenic properties of a genotype D1.1 A(H5N1) influenza virus isolated from a human

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

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