Table 4.

Pathogens that bind to sialic acids on human cell surfaces

Pathogen	Binding protein	Known target sialylated sequence
Human Influenza A	Hemagglutinin	Siaα2–6Gal(NAc)
Avian Influenza A	Hemagglutinin	Siaα2–3Galβ1-
Human Influenza C	Hemagglutinin-esterase	9-O-Ac-Siaα2-
Vibrio cholera	Toxin	Galβ1–3GalNAcβ1,4(Siaα2–3)Lac-Cer
Plasmodium falciparum	EBA-175	Siaα2–3Galβ1–3(Siaα2–6)GalNAc-O-
Clostridium botulinum	Toxin	Polysialogangliosides
Helicobacter pylori	SabA	Siaα2–3Gal on gangliosides

Table adapted with permission from Ajit Varki Sialic acids in human health and disease Trends Mol Med. 2008; 14(8): 351–360.