Description
Neuraminidases, also called sialidases, are glycoside hydrolase enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of terminal sialic acid residues and neuraminic acids. The most commonly known neuraminidase is the viral neuraminidase. The cleavage of linkage between sialic acid and adjacent sugar residue permits the transport of the virus through mucin and destroys the haemagglutinin receptor on the host cell, thus allowing elution of progeny virus particles from infected cells. Neuraminidase promotes influenza virus release from infected cells and facilitates virus spread within the respiratory tract. Thus, it is an important target for influenza drug development. The detection of neuraminidase and screening its inhibitors is one of the essential tasks for investigating biological processes and prevention of influenza infection