Cattle and human organoids reveal 2.3.4.4b H5N1 cross-species transmission potential and neuraminidase-specific neutralizing antibodies in humans

C Cun Li (Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong) Y Yifei Yu Z Zhixin Wan (Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong) J Jian-Piao Cai (Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong) J Jingjing Huang (College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University) X Xiaoxin Zhu (Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong) J Jiali Wu (Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong) W Wei Xue (Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering) Y Ying Zhou M Man Chun Chiu (Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong) Q Qiaoshuai Lan (Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong) S Shuxin Zhang (Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong) Z Zijun Zhao (Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong) Y Yidong Yang Y Yuhong Liu (State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter and College of Chemistry) P Pui Wang S Shaofeng Deng M Ming Yue L Longchao Zhu K Keshan Zhang M Mengmeng Zhao J Jieshi Yu W Wenkang Wei X Xiang Gao L Lin Huang H Hin Chu (Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong) G Gang Wu H Honglin Chen (Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering) K Kwok Yung Yuen R Richard Webby J Jie Zhou

Abstract

Abstract The unexpected circulation of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 influenza viruses in dairy cattle and the transmission to diverse mammalian species poses a pandemic risk. We sought to explore cattle and human respiratory susceptibility to the 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus. We establish long-term expandable cattle airway and mammary organoids. The 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus exhibits high replicative fitness in cattle mammary organoids, recapitulating its remarkable mammary tropism. The virus also replicates robustly in cattle airway organoids, suggesting an underrecognized respiratory component in ongoing outbreaks. Interestingly, human airway and nasal organoids are highly susceptible to the 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus. Yet, a novel organoid-based neutralization assay reveals that N1 antibodies in human sera had cross-neutralizing activity against the 2.3.4.4b H5N1 and ancestral H5N1-VN1194 viruses. The cross-neutralization, exclusively manifested in the organoid-based assay, is enhanced after seasonal influenza vaccination and diminished after depleting N1-specific antibodies. Therefore, cross-neutralizing N1 antibodies are likely limiting zoonotic infection by H5N1 viruses in humans.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 17, Issue 1
Published July 08, 2026
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (31)

C

Cun Li

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

Y

Yifei Yu

Z

Zhixin Wan

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

J

Jian-Piao Cai

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

J

Jingjing Huang

College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University

X

Xiaoxin Zhu

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

J

Jiali Wu

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

W

Wei Xue

Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Engineering Technology Research Center of Drug Carrier of Guangdong, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Y

Ying Zhou

M

Man Chun Chiu

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

Q

Qiaoshuai Lan

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

S

Shuxin Zhang

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

Z

Zijun Zhao

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

Y

Yidong Yang

Y

Yuhong Liu

State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter and College of Chemistry

P

Pui Wang

S

Shaofeng Deng

M

Ming Yue

L

Longchao Zhu

K

Keshan Zhang

M

Mengmeng Zhao

J

Jieshi Yu

W

Wenkang Wei

X

Xiang Gao

L

Lin Huang

H

Hin Chu

Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

G

Gang Wu

H

Honglin Chen

Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering

K

Kwok Yung Yuen

R

Richard Webby

J

Jie Zhou