Immunization with influenza A NP-expressing vaccinia virus recombinant protects mice against experimental infection with human and avian influenza viruses

2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (5) ◽  
pp. 921-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Altstein ◽  
A. K. Gitelman ◽  
Y. A. Smirnov ◽  
L. M. Piskareva ◽  
L. G. Zakharova ◽  
...  
2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (23) ◽  
pp. 12325-12335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Suk Song ◽  
Philippe Noriel Q. Pascua ◽  
Jun Han Lee ◽  
Yun Hee Baek ◽  
Ok-Jun Lee ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Adaptation of influenza A viruses to a new host species usually involves the mutation of one or more of the eight viral gene segments, and the molecular basis for host range restriction is still poorly understood. To investigate the molecular changes that occur during adaptation of a low-pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype commonly isolated from migratory birds to a mammalian host, we serially passaged the avirulent wild-bird H5N2 strain A/Aquatic bird/Korea/W81/05 (W81) in the lungs of mice. The resulting mouse-adapted strain (ma81) was highly virulent (50% mouse lethal dose = 2.6 log10 50% tissue culture infective dose) and highly lethal. Nonconserved mutations were observed in six viral genes (those for PB2, PB1, PA, HA, NA, and M). Reverse genetic experiments substituting viral genes and mutations demonstrated that the PA gene was a determinant of the enhanced virulence in mice and that a Thr-to-Iso substitution at position 97 of PA played a key role. In growth kinetics studies, ma81 showed enhanced replication in mammalian but not avian cell lines; the PA97I mutation in strain W81 increased its replicative fitness in mice but not in chickens. The high virulence associated with the PA97I mutation in mice corresponded to considerably enhanced polymerase activity in mammalian cells. Furthermore, this characteristic mutation is not conserved among avian influenza viruses but is prevalent among mouse-adapted strains, indicating a host-dependent mutation. To our knowledge, this is the first study that the isoleucine residue at position 97 in PA plays a key role in enhanced virulence in mice and is implicated in the adaptation of avian influenza viruses to mammalian hosts.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (23) ◽  
pp. 10936-10944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangjie Sun ◽  
Jessica A. Belser ◽  
Joanna A. Pulit-Penaloza ◽  
Hui Zeng ◽  
Amanda Lewis ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTAvian influenza A H7 viruses have caused multiple outbreaks in domestic poultry throughout North America, resulting in occasional infections of humans in close contact with affected birds. In early 2016, the presence of H7N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses and closely related H7N8 low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses was confirmed in commercial turkey farms in Indiana. These H7N8 viruses represent the first isolation of this subtype in domestic poultry in North America, and their virulence in mammalian hosts and the potential risk for human infection are largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the ability of H7N8 HPAI and LPAI viruses to replicatein vitroin human airway cells andin vivoin mouse and ferret models. Both H7N8 viruses replicated efficientlyin vitroandin vivo, but they exhibited substantial differences in disease severity in mammals. In mice, while the H7N8 LPAI virus largely remained avirulent, the H7N8 HPAI virus exhibited greater infectivity, virulence, and lethality. Both H7N8 viruses replicated similarly in ferrets, but only the H7N8 HPAI virus caused moderate weight loss, lethargy, and mortality. The H7N8 LPAI virus displayed limited transmissibility in ferrets placed in direct contact with an inoculated animal, while no transmission of H7N8 HPAI virus was detected. Our results indicate that the H7N8 avian influenza viruses from Indiana are able to replicate in mammals and cause severe disease but with limited transmission. The recent appearance of H7N8 viruses in domestic poultry highlights the need for continued influenza surveillance in wild birds and close monitoring of the potential risk to human health.IMPORTANCEH7 influenza viruses circulate in wild birds in the United States, but when the virus emerges in domestic poultry populations, the frequency of human exposure and the potential for human infections increases. An H7N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus and an H7N8 low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus were recently isolated from commercial turkey farms in Indiana. To determine the risk that these influenza viruses pose to humans, we assessed their pathogenesis and transmissionin vitroand in mammalian models. We found that the H7N8 HPAI virus exhibited enhanced virulence, and although transmission was only observed with the H7N8 LPAI virus, the ability of this H7 virus to transmit in a mammalian host and quickly evolve to a more virulent strain is cause for concern. Our findings offer important insight into the potential for emerging H7 avian influenza viruses to acquire the ability to cause disease and transmit among mammals.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaorong Guo ◽  
Dong Yang ◽  
Ruchun Liu ◽  
Yaman Li ◽  
Qingqing Hu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Detecting avian influenza virus has become an important public health strategy for controlling the emerging infectious disease. This study aimed to analyze the efficiency of two surveillance systems in detecting the emerging avian influenza viruses. Methods: A modified influenza surveillance system (ISS) and a new built pneumonia surveillance system (PSS) have been used to monitor the viruses in Changsha City, China. The ISS is based on monitoring outpatients in two sentinel hospitals to detect mild influenza and avian influenza cases, and PSS is based on monitoring inpatients in all 49 hospitals to detect severe and death influenza cases. Results: During the study period, 3551917 outpatients were monitored by the ISS system, among which 126076 were influenza-like illness (ILI) cases, with the ILI% of 3.55%. Totally, 14913 throat swabs were collected by the ISS system, among which 2016 were tested positive of influenza or avian influenza virus. Among the positive results, 621 were H3N2, 135 were seasonal H1N1, 610 were influenza A/H1N1 (pandemic in 2009), 106 were untyped influenza A, 540 were B, 1 was H5N6, 1 was H7N9, and 2 were H9N2 virus. 5491560 inpatient people were monitored by the PSS system, among which 6.61% (362743/5491560) were pneumonia cases. 10.55% (38260/362743) of reported pneumonia was severe or death cases. 3401 throat swab or lower respiratory tract samples were collected, among which 2094 were tested positive of influenza or avian influenza virus. Among the positive results, 78 were H3N2, 17 were seasonal H1N1, 1871 were influenza A/H1N1, 103 were untyped influenza A, 16 were B, 1 was H5N6, and 8 were H7N9 virus. Of 15 avian influenza cases reported from January, 2005 to September, 2016, 26.7% (4/15) were mild cases detected by the ISS system, while 60.0% (9/15) were severe or death cases detected by the PSS system. Two H5N1 severe cases were missed by the ISS system in January, 2009 when the PSS system was not available. Conclusion: The two systems seem to be of high efficiency in detecting the emerging avian influenza viruses but need to be verified in other cities or countries.


2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (11) ◽  
pp. 5835-5846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram P. Kamal ◽  
Amrita Kumar ◽  
Charles T. Davis ◽  
Wen-Pin Tzeng ◽  
Tung Nguyen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTInfluenza A viruses (IAVs) express the PB1-F2 protein from an alternate reading frame within the PB1 gene segment. The roles of PB1-F2 are not well understood but appear to involve modulation of host cell responses. As shown in previous studies, we find that PB1-F2 proteins of mammalian IAVs frequently have premature stop codons that are expected to cause truncations of the protein, whereas avian IAVs usually express a full-length 90-amino-acid PB1-F2. However, in contrast to other avian IAVs, recent isolates of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses had a high proportion of PB1-F2 truncations (15% since 2010; 61% of isolates in 2013) due to several independent mutations that have persisted and expanded in circulating viruses. One natural H5N1 IAV containing a mutated PB1-F2 start codon (i.e., lacking ATG) was 1,000-fold more virulent for BALB/c mice than a closely related H5N1 containing intact PB1-F2.In vitro, we detected expression of an in-frame protein (C-terminal PB1-F2) from downstream ATGs in PB1-F2 plasmids lacking the well-conserved ATG start codon. Transient expression of full-length PB1-F2, truncated (24-amino-acid) PB1-F2, and PB1-F2 lacking the initiating ATG in mammalian and avian cells had no effect on cell apoptosis or interferon expression in human lung epithelial cells. Full-length and C-terminal PB1-F2 mutants colocalized with mitochondria in A549 cells. Close monitoring of alterations of PB1-F2 and their frequency in contemporary avian H5N1 viruses should continue, as such changes may be markers for mammalian virulence.IMPORTANCEAlthough most avian influenza viruses are harmless for humans, some (such as highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses) are capable of infecting humans and causing severe disease with a high mortality rate. A number of risk factors potentially associated with adaptation to mammalian infection have been noted. Here we demonstrate that the protein PB1-F2 is frequently truncated in recent isolates of highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses. Truncation of PB1-F2 has been proposed to act as an adaptation to mammalian infection. We show that some forms of truncation of PB1-F2 may be associated with increased virulence in mammals. Our data support the assessment of PB1-F2 truncations for genomic surveillance of influenza viruses.


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