Hemagglutinin of Influenza A Virus Subtype H5 (None)

Hemagglutinin (HA) is a surface glycoprotein and the principal antigenic determinant of influenza A viruses, including subtype H5. It is responsible for binding the virus to host cell receptors and mediating membrane fusion during viral entry. The HA protein exists as a trimer on the viral envelope and undergoes significant conformational changes to facilitate infection. Mutations in or near the receptor-binding domain can alter species specificity, enabling binding to human-type receptors and facilitating zoonotic transmission potential. The pathogenicity of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses like some H5N1 strains is closely linked to specific motifs at the HA cleavage site.

Other names

HAH5 hemagglutininInfluenza A H5 hemagglutininH5 HA

Binding to sialic acid receptors on host cells; mediating fusion between viral and endosomal membranes