Glycan remodeled erythrocytes facilitate antigenic characterization of recent A/H3N2 influenza viruses

Frederik Broszeit, Rosanne J. Beek, Luca Unione, Theo M. Bestebroer, Digantkumar Chapla, Jeong-Yeh Yang, Kelley W. Moremen, Sander Herfst, Ron A. M. Fouchier, Robert P. Vries () and Geert-Jan Boons ()
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Frederik Broszeit: Utrecht University
Rosanne J. Beek: Utrecht University
Luca Unione: Utrecht University
Theo M. Bestebroer: Erasmus MC
Digantkumar Chapla: University of Georgia
Jeong-Yeh Yang: University of Georgia
Kelley W. Moremen: University of Georgia
Sander Herfst: Erasmus MC
Ron A. M. Fouchier: Erasmus MC
Robert P. Vries: Utrecht University
Geert-Jan Boons: Utrecht University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract During circulation in humans and natural selection to escape antibody recognition for decades, A/H3N2 influenza viruses emerged with altered receptor specificities. These viruses lost the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes critical for antigenic characterization and give low yields and acquire adaptive mutations when cultured in eggs and cells, contributing to recent vaccine challenges. Examination of receptor specificities of A/H3N2 viruses reveals that recent viruses compensated for decreased binding of the prototypic human receptor by recognizing α2,6-sialosides on extended LacNAc moieties. Erythrocyte glycomics shows an absence of extended glycans providing a rationale for lack of agglutination by recent A/H3N2 viruses. A glycan remodeling approach installing functional receptors on erythrocytes, allows antigenic characterization of recent A/H3N2 viruses confirming the cocirculation of antigenically different viruses in humans. Computational analysis of HAs in complex with sialosides having extended LacNAc moieties reveals that mutations distal to the RBD reoriented the Y159 side chain resulting in an extended receptor binding site.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25713-1

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