Post by Shubhada K. Chothe

Excited to share that one of our recent studies has been published in Science Magazine !   The emergence of H5N1 in dairy cattle revealed an unusual pattern of infection, with the virus primarily targeting the mammary gland and causing severe mastitis, while showing limited involvement of the respiratory tract.   In this study, we combined glycomics, receptor mapping, virus-binding assays, and electron microscopy to investigate the biological basis of this unique tissue tropism. Our findings identified key differences in receptor distribution and accessibility that help explain the preferential infection of mammary tissue by H5N1.   I am proud to have contributed to this work and to be part of the Kuchipudi Lab at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh. Looking forward to the new questions and discoveries that this work will inspire! Pitt Infectious Diseases and Microbiology University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health University of Pittsburgh https://lnkd.in/gQdJUsTA