Issue 3, 2017

A fluorogenic 2D glycosheet for the simultaneous identification of human- and avian-receptor specificity in influenza viruses

Abstract

The switch in glycan-receptor specificity of influenza viruses may cause their interspecies transmission. However, tools that can simultaneous unveil the different receptor specificities of a single virus strain, in a homogeneous solution, have been elusive. Here we show a simple yet effective “2D glycosheet” that is capable of simultaneously identifying the human- and avian-glycan-receptor specificity of influenza viruses. Two fluorophores with different emission colors are coupled with avian- or human-glycan receptors. Then, the glycan–fluorophore conjugates with different receptors and emission colors are co-assembled on a 2D molybdenum disulfide platform, producing a duplexed, fluorogenic 2D glycosheet. While the system shows a single emission color with viruses containing a single receptor specificity, in the presence of a virus (H7N9) containing dual (human- and avian-) receptor specificity the system produces both emission colors. Interestingly, the use of graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes as the material substrate also produces dual emission with H7N9, thus enabling a new generation of low-dimensional glycomaterials for effectively probing the switch in receptor-specificity of influenza viruses.

Graphical abstract: A fluorogenic 2D glycosheet for the simultaneous identification of human- and avian-receptor specificity in influenza viruses

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
08 Dec 2016
Accepted
07 Mar 2017
First published
07 Mar 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Mater. Horiz., 2017,4, 431-436

A fluorogenic 2D glycosheet for the simultaneous identification of human- and avian-receptor specificity in influenza viruses

J. Song, X. Tang, D. Zhou, W. Zhang, T. D. James, X. He and H. Tian, Mater. Horiz., 2017, 4, 431 DOI: 10.1039/C6MH00571C

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