Flu Sialic Acid Graphic (IMAGE) University of California - San Diego Caption In this cartoon, experimental magnetic beads are coated with human or pig mucins (gray mesh), which are proteins containing sialic acids (red or blue diamonds), part of a protective mucus net secreted by respiratory cells. Humans and pigs have different sialic acids on their mucins, as indicated by the bottom molecular structures. The flu virus (green stars) bind to and cleave off sialic acids, snipping through the host mucus net to infect cells. Credit UC San Diego School of Medicine Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.