scholarly journals Competitive evolution of H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaiwat Wilasang ◽  
Pikkanet Suttirat ◽  
Anuwat Wiratsudakul ◽  
Sudarat Chadsuthi ◽  
Charin Modchang

Seasonal influenza causes vast public health and economic impact globally. The prevention and control of the annual epidemics remain a challenge due to the antigenic evolution of the viruses. Here, we presented a novel modeling framework based on changes in amino acid sequences and relevant epidemiological data to retrospectively investigate the competitive evolution and transmission of H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses in the United States during October 2002 and April 2019. To do so, we estimated the time-varying disease transmission rate from the reported influenza cases and the time-varying evolutionary rate of the viruses from the changes in amino acid sequences. By incorporating these time-varying rates into the transmission models, we found that the models could accurately capture the evolutionary transmission dynamics of influenza viruses in the United States. Our modeling results also showed that models incorporating evolutionary change of the virus could provide better modeling performance suggesting the critical role of the evolutionary change of virus on the disease transmission.

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (17) ◽  
pp. 11412-11421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-Won Lee ◽  
David E. Swayne ◽  
Jose A. Linares ◽  
Dennis A. Senne ◽  
David L. Suarez

ABSTRACT In early 2004, an H5N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) that met the molecular criteria for classification as a highly pathogenic AIV was isolated from chickens in the state of Texas in the United States. However, clinical manifestations in the affected flock were consistent with avian influenza caused by a low-pathogenicity AIV and the representative virus (A/chicken/Texas/298313/04 [TX/04]) was not virulent for experimentally inoculated chickens. The hemagglutinin (HA) gene of the TX/04 isolate was similar in sequence to A/chicken/Texas/167280-4/02 (TX/02), a low-pathogenicity AIV isolate recovered from chickens in Texas in 2002. However, the TX/04 isolate had one additional basic amino acid at the HA cleavage site, which could be attributed to a single point mutation. The TX/04 isolate was similar in sequence to TX/02 isolate in several internal genes (NP, M, and NS), but some genes (PA, PB1, and PB2) had sequence of a clearly different origin. The TX/04 isolate also had a stalk deletion in the NA gene, characteristic of a chicken-adapted AIV. By analyzing viruses constructed by in vitro mutagenesis followed by reverse genetics, we found that the pathogenicity of the TX/04 virus could be increased in vitro and in vivo by the insertion of an additional basic amino acid at the HA cleavage site and not by the loss of a glycosylation site near the cleavage site. Our study provides the genetic and biologic characteristics of the TX/04 isolate, which highlight the complexity of the polygenic nature of the virulence of influenza viruses.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangjun Du ◽  
Aaron A. King ◽  
Robert J. Woods ◽  
Mercedes Pascual

ABSTRACTInter-pandemic or seasonal influenza exacts an enormous annual burden both in terms of human health and economic impact. Incidence prediction ahead of season remains a challenge largely because of the virus’ antigenic evolution. We propose here a forecasting approach that incorporates evolutionary change into a mechanistic epidemiological model. The proposed models are simple enough that their parameters can be estimated from retrospective surveillance data. These models link amino-acid sequences of hemagglutinin epitopes with a transmission model for seasonal H3N2 influenza, also informed by H1N1 levels. With a monthly time series of H3N2 incidence in the United States over 10 years, we demonstrate the feasibility of prediction ahead of season and an accurate real-time forecast for the 2016/2017 influenza season.SUMMARYSkillful forecasting of seasonal (H3N2) influenza incidence ahead of the season is shown to be possible by means of a transmission model that explicitly tracks evolutionary change in the virus, integrating information from both epidemiological surveillance and readily available genetic sequences.


2016 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoquan Wang ◽  
Natalia A. Ilyushina ◽  
Vladimir Y. Lugovtsev ◽  
Nicolai V. Bovin ◽  
Laura K. Couzens ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Influenza A H3N2 variant [A(H3N2)v] viruses, which have caused human infections in the United States in recent years, originated from human seasonal H3N2 viruses that were introduced into North American swine in the mid-1990s, but they are antigenically distinct from both the ancestral and current circulating H3N2 strains. A reference A(H3N2)v virus, A/Minnesota/11/2010 (MN/10), and a seasonal H3N2 strain, A/Beijing/32/1992 (BJ/92), were chosen to determine the molecular basis for the antigenic difference between A(H3N2)v and the ancestral viruses. Viruses containing wild-type and mutant MN/10 or BJ/92 hemagglutinins (HAs) were constructed and probed for reactivity with ferret antisera against MN/10 and BJ/92 in hemagglutination inhibition assays. Among the amino acids that differ between the MN/10 and BJ/92 HAs, those in antigenic site A had little impact on the antigenic phenotype. Within antigenic site B, mutations at residues 156, 158, 189, and 193 of MN/10 HA to those in BJ/92 switched the MN/10 antigenic phenotype to that of BJ/92. Mutations at residues 156, 157, 158, 189, and 193 of BJ/92 HA to amino acids present in MN/10 were necessary for BJ/92 to become antigenically similar to MN/10. The HA amino acid substitutions responsible for switching the antigenic phenotype also impacted HA binding to sialyl receptors that are usually present in the human respiratory tract. Our study demonstrates that antigenic site B residues play a critical role in determining both the unique antigenic phenotype and receptor specificity of A(H3N2)v viruses, a finding that may facilitate future surveillance and risk assessment of novel influenza viruses. IMPORTANCE Influenza A H3N2 variant [A(H3N2)v] viruses have caused hundreds of human infections in multiple states in the United States since 2009. Most cases have been children who had contact with swine in agricultural fairs. These viruses originated from human seasonal H3N2 viruses that were introduced into the U.S. swine population in the mid-1990s, but they are different from both these ancestral viruses and current circulating human seasonal H3N2 strains in terms of their antigenic characteristics as measured by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. In this study, we identified amino acids in antigenic site B of the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) that explain the antigenic difference between A(H3N2)v and the ancestral H3N2 strains. These amino acid mutations also alter binding to minor human-type glycans, suggesting that host adaptation may contribute to the selection of antigenically distinct H3N2 variants which pose a threat to public health.


2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (18) ◽  
pp. 8243-8251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Webby ◽  
Sabrina L. Swenson ◽  
Scott L. Krauss ◽  
Philip J. Gerrish ◽  
Sagar M. Goyal ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT During 1998, severe outbreaks of influenza were observed in four swine herds in the United States. This event was unique because the causative agents, H3N2 influenza viruses, are infrequently isolated from swine in North America. Two antigenically distinct reassortant viruses (H3N2) were isolated from infected animals: a double-reassortant virus containing genes similar to those of human and swine viruses, and a triple-reassortant virus containing genes similar to those of human, swine, and avian influenza viruses (N. N. Zhou, D. A. Senne, J. S. Landgraf, S. L. Swenson, G. Erickson, K. Rossow, L. Liu, K.-J. Yoon, S. Krauss, and R. G. Webster, J. Virol. 73:8851–8856, 1999). Because the U.S. pig population was essentially naive in regard to H3N2 viruses, it was important to determine the extent of viral spread. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays of 4,382 serum samples from swine in 23 states indicated that 28.3% of these animals had been exposed to classical swine-like H1N1 viruses and 20.5% had been exposed to the triple-reassortant-like H3N2 viruses. The HI data suggested that viruses antigenically related to the double-reassortant H3N2 virus have not become widespread in the U.S. swine population. The seroreactivity levels in swine serum samples and the nucleotide sequences of six additional 1999 isolates, all of which were of the triple-reassortant genotype, suggested that H3N2 viruses containing avian PA and PB2 genes had spread throughout much of the country. These avian-like genes cluster with genes from North American avian viruses. The worldwide predominance of swine viruses containing an avian-like internal gene component suggests that these genes may confer a selective advantage in pigs. Analysis of the 1999 swine H3N2 isolates showed that the internal gene complex of the triple-reassortant viruses was associated with three recent phylogenetically distinct human-like hemagglutinin (HA) molecules. Acquisition of HA genes from the human virus reservoir will significantly affect the efficacy of the current swine H3N2 vaccines. This finding supports continued surveillance of U.S. swine populations for influenza virus activity.


Plant Disease ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mollov ◽  
M. A. Guaragna ◽  
B. Lockhart ◽  
J. A. M. Rezende ◽  
R. Jordan

Mandevilla (Apocynaceae) is an ornamental tropical vine popular for its bright and attractive flowers. During 2012 to 2013, 12 Mandevilla sp. samples from Minnesota and Florida nurseries were submitted for analysis at the University of Minnesota Plant Disease Clinic. Plants showed mosaic symptoms, leaf deformation, premature leaf senescence, and vine dieback. Filamentous virus particles with modal lengths 700 to 900 nm were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in partially purified preparations from symptomatic leaves. Partially purified virions were obtained using 30% sucrose cushion centrifuged at 109,000 gmax for 2 h at 10°C (5). No other virus particles were observed in these samples, nor were any observed in non-symptomatic samples. One sample was submitted as potted plant (Mandevilla ‘Sunmandeho’ Sun Parasol Giant White) and was kept under greenhouse conditions for subsequent analyses. Total RNA (Qiagen) was extracted from this sample, and Potyvirus was detected using the universal primers Poty S (5′-GGN AAY AAY AGY GGN CAR CC-3′) and PV1 (5′-20(T)V-3′) (1) by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR (3). The amplified product was the expected ~1.7-kb, corresponding to the partial nuclear inclusion body gene, the coat protein (CP) gene, and the 3′ end untranslated region. The RT-PCR amplicon was cloned (NEB) and sequenced, and the 1,720-bp consensus sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KM243928). NCBI BLAST analysis at the nucleotide level revealed highest identity (83%) with an isolate of Catharanthus mosaic virus (CatMV) from Brazil (Accession No. DQ365928). Pairwise analysis of the predicted 256 amino acid CP revealed 91% identity with the CatMV Brazilian isolate (ABI94824) and 68% or less identity with other potyviruses. Two potyviruses are usually considered the same species if their CP amino acid sequences are greater than 80% identical (2). Serological analysis of the infected sample Mandevilla ‘Sunmandeho’ Sun Parasol Giant White using a CatMV specific antiserum (4) resulted in positive indirect ELISA reactions. CatMV has been previously reported in periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) in Brazil (4). Based on the analyses by TEM, RT-PCR, nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities, and serological reactivity, we identify this virus as a U.S. Mandevilla isolate of CatMV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Catharanthus mosaic virus both in the United States and in Mandevilla. References: (1) J. Chen et al. Arch Virol. 146:757, 2001. (2) A. Gibbs and K. Ohshima. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 48:205, 2010. (3) R. L. Jordan et al. Acta Hortic. 901:159, 2011. (4) S. C. Maciell et al. Sci. Agric. Piracicaba, Brazil. 68:687, 2011. (5) D. Mollov et al. Arch Virol. 158:1917, 2013.


Author(s):  
Mark W Tenforde ◽  
H Keipp Talbot ◽  
Christopher H Trabue ◽  
Manjusha Gaglani ◽  
Tresa M McNeal ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Influenza causes significant morbidity and mortality and stresses hospital resources during periods of increased circulation. We evaluated the effectiveness of the 2019-2020 influenza vaccine against influenza-associated hospitalizations in the United States. Methods We included adults hospitalized with acute respiratory illness at 14 hospitals and tested for influenza viruses by reserve transcription polymerase chain reaction. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was estimated by comparing the odds of current-season influenza vaccination in test-positive influenza cases versus test-negative controls, adjusting for confounders. VE was stratified by age and major circulating influenza types along with A(H1N1)pdm09 genetic subgroups. Results 3116 participants were included, including 18% (553) influenza-positive cases. Median age was 63 years. Sixty-seven percent (2079) received vaccination. Overall adjusted VE against influenza viruses was 41% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27-52). VE against A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses was 40% (95% CI: 24-53) and 33% against B viruses (95% CI: 0-56). Of the two major A(H1N1)pdm09 subgroups (representing 90% of sequenced H1N1 viruses), VE against one group (5A+187A,189E) was 59% (95% CI: 34-75) whereas no significant VE was observed against the other group (5A+156K) [-1%, 95% CI: -61-37]. Conclusions In a primarily older population, influenza vaccination was associated with a 41% reduction in risk of hospitalized influenza illness.


2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (17) ◽  
pp. 8127-8136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel R. Perez ◽  
Ruben O. Donis

ABSTRACT Influenza A virus expresses three viral polymerase (P) subunits—PB1, PB2, and PA—all of which are essential for RNA and viral replication. The functions of P proteins in transcription and replication have been partially elucidated, yet some of these functions seem to be dependent on the formation of a heterotrimer for optimal viral RNA transcription and replication. Although it is conceivable that heterotrimer subunit interactions may allow a more efficient catalysis, direct evidence of their essentiality for viral replication is lacking. Biochemical studies addressing the molecular anatomy of the P complexes have revealed direct interactions between PB1 and PB2 as well as between PB1 and PA. Previous studies have shown that the N-terminal 48 amino acids of PB1, termed domain α, contain the residues required for binding PA. We report here the refined mapping of the amino acid sequences within this small region of PB1 that are indispensable for binding PA by deletion mutagenesis of PB1 in a two-hybrid assay. Subsequently, we used site-directed mutagenesis to identify the critical amino acid residues of PB1 for interaction with PA in vivo. The first 12 amino acids of PB1 were found to constitute the core of the interaction interface, thus narrowing the previous boundaries of domain α. The role of the minimal PB1 domain α in influenza virus gene expression and genome replication was subsequently analyzed by evaluating the activity of a set of PB1 mutants in a model reporter minigenome system. A strong correlation was observed between a functional PA binding site on PB1 and P activity. Influenza viruses bearing mutant PB1 genes were recovered using a plasmid-based influenza virus reverse genetics system. Interestingly, mutations that rendered PB1 unable to bind PA were either nonviable or severely growth impaired. These data are consistent with an essential role for the N terminus of PB1 in binding PA, P activity, and virus growth.


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