Characterization of the glycoproteins of novel fish influenza B-like viruses

Singh, G.; Huang, J.; Bhavsar, D.; Vasilev, K.; Ferguson, J.; Boons, G.-J.; Simon, V.; de Vries, R. P.; Han, J.; Ward, A.; Krammer, F.

doi:10.1101/2025.05.08.652883

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.05.08.652883

Characterization of the glycoproteins of novel fish influenza B-like viruses

Singh, G.·Huang, J.·Bhavsar, D.·Vasilev, K.·Ferguson, J.·Boons, G.-J.·Simon, V.·de Vries, R. P.·Han, J.·Ward, A.·Krammer, F.

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Abstract

Novel influenza-like virus sequences previously identified in fish and amphibians were found to cluster as a sister clade of influenza B viruses, but have thus far remained uncharacterized. We demonstrate that salamander influenza-like virus (SILV) HA is functionally divergent from influenza B virus HA and does not bind to 2,3- and 2,6-linked sialic acids. However, the HAs of Siamese algae-eater influenza-like virus (SAEILV) and chum salmon influenza-like virus (CSILV) bind to 2,3 linked sialic acid. Furthermore, SAEILV HA binds to sialyated Lewis X, is activated by human airway enzymes and is fusogenic at a wide range of pH conditions. SAEILV NA has a highly conserved active site and a similar structure to other known NAs. We also determined the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the HA of a previously described virus from the same sister clade, the Wuhan spiny eel influenza virus (WSEIV). Importantly, no cross-reactive antibodies against these HAs or NAs were found in the human serum, suggesting that humans are immunologically naive to these viruses. One sentence summaryNovel influenza like-viruses, displayed different target receptor specificity and limited antigenic conservation of the HA and NA relative to influenza B Viruses.

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Singh, G., Huang, J., Bhavsar, D., Vasilev, K., Ferguson, J., Boons, G.-J., Simon, V., de Vries, R. P., Han, J., Ward, A., Krammer, F.. 2025-05-08. Characterization of the glycoproteins of novel fish influenza B-like viruses. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.05.08.652883

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