Variation at Extra-epitopic Amino Acid Residues Influences Suppression of Influenza Virus Replication by M158-66 Epitope-Specific CD8+ T Lymphocytes

ABSTRACT Influenza virus-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTLs) contribute to clearance of influenza virus infections and reduce disease severity. Variation at amino acid residues located in or outside CTL epitopes has been shown to affect viral recognition by virus-specific CTLs. In the present study, we investigated the effect of naturally occurring variation at residues outside the conserved immunodominant and HLA*0201-restricted M158-66 epitope, located in the influenza virus M1 protein, on the extent of virus replication in the presence of CTLs specific for the epitope. To this end, we used isogenic viruses with an M1 gene segment derived from either an avian or a human influenza virus, HLA-transgenic human epithelial cells, human T cell clones specific for the M158-66 epitope or a control epitope, and a novel, purposely developed in vitro system to coculture influenza virus-infected cells with T cells. We found that the M gene segment of a human influenza A/H3N2 virus afforded the virus the capacity to replicate better in the presence of M158-66-specific CTLs than the M gene segment of avian viruses. These findings are in concordance with previously observed differential CTL activation, caused by variation at extra-epitopic residues, and may reflect an immune adaptation strategy of human influenza viruses that allows them to cope with potent CTL immunity to the M158-66 epitope in HLA-A*0201-positive individuals, resulting in increased virus replication and shedding and possibly increasing disease severity. IMPORTANCE Influenza viruses are among the leading causes of acute respiratory tract infections. CD8+ T lymphocytes display a high degree of cross-reactivity with influenza A viruses of various subtypes and are considered an important correlate of protection. Unraveling viral immune evasion strategies and identifying signs of immune adaptation are important for defining the role of CD8+ T lymphocytes in affording protection more accurately. Improving our insight into the interaction between influenza viruses and virus-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte immunity may help to advance our understanding of influenza virus epidemiology, aid in risk assessment of potentially pandemic influenza virus strains, and benefit the design of vaccines that induce more broadly protective immunity.

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Large-Scale Sequence Analysis of M Gene of Influenza A Viruses from Different Species: Mechanisms for Emergence and Spread of Amantadine Resistance

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00650-09 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 53 (10) ◽

pp. 4457-4463 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Yuki Furuse ◽

Akira Suzuki ◽

Hitoshi Oshitani

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Human Influenza ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

M Gene ◽

Drug Pressure ◽

Human Influenza Virus ◽

Selective Pressures ◽

Amantadine Resistance

ABSTRACT Influenza A virus infects many species, and amantadine is used as an antiviral agent. Recently, a substantial increase in amantadine-resistant strains has been reported, most of which have a substitution at amino acid position 31 in the M2 gene. Understanding the mechanism responsible for the emergence and spread of antiviral resistance is important for developing a treatment protocol for seasonal influenza and for deciding on a policy for antiviral stockpiling for pandemic influenza. The present study was conducted to identify the existence of drug pressure on the emergence and spread of amantadine-resistant influenza A viruses. We analyzed data on more than 5,000 virus sequences and constructed a phylogenetic tree to calculate selective pressures on sites in the M2 gene associated with amantadine resistance (positions 26, 27, 30, and 31) among different hosts. The phylogenetic tree revealed that the emergence and spread of the drug-resistant M gene in different hosts and subtypes were independent and not through reassortment. For human influenza virus, positive selection was detected only at position 27. Selective pressures on the sites were not always higher for human influenza virus than for viruses of other hosts. Additionally, selective pressure on position 31 did not increase after the introduction of amantadine. Although there is a possibility of drug pressure on human influenza virus, we could not find positive pressure on position 31. Because the recent rapid increase in drug-resistant virus is associated with the substitution at position 31, the resistance may not be related to drug use.

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Swine Influenza Virus PA and Neuraminidase Gene Reassortment into Human H1N1 Influenza Virus Is Associated with an Altered Pathogenic Phenotype Linked to Increased MIP-2 Expression

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00087-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 89 (10) ◽

pp. 5651-5667 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Daniel Dlugolenski ◽

Les Jones ◽

Elizabeth Howerth ◽

David Wentworth ◽

S. Mark Tompkins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Sialic Acid ◽

Influenza A ◽

H1n1 Virus ◽

Swine Influenza ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Pandemic H1n1 ◽

Human Influenza ◽

Swine Virus ◽

Virus Reassortment

ABSTRACTSwine are susceptible to infection by both avian and human influenza viruses, and this feature is thought to contribute to novel reassortant influenza viruses. In this study, the influenza virus reassortment rate in swine and human cells was determined. Coinfection of swine cells with 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus (huH1N1) and an endemic swine H1N2 (A/swine/Illinois/02860/09) virus (swH1N2) resulted in a 23% reassortment rate that was independent of α2,3- or α2,6-sialic acid distribution on the cells. The reassortants had altered pathogenic phenotypes linked to introduction of the swine virus PA and neuraminidase (NA) into huH1N1. In mice, the huH1N1 PA and NA mediated increased MIP-2 expression early postinfection, resulting in substantial pulmonary neutrophilia with enhanced lung pathology and disease. The findings support the notion that swine are a mixing vessel for influenza virus reassortants independent of sialic acid distribution. These results show the potential for continued reassortment of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus with endemic swine viruses and for reassortants to have increased pathogenicity linked to the swine virus NA and PA genes which are associated with increased pulmonary neutrophil trafficking that is related to MIP-2 expression.IMPORTANCEInfluenza A viruses can change rapidly via reassortment to create a novel virus, and reassortment can result in possible pandemics. Reassortments among subtypes from avian and human viruses led to the 1957 (H2N2 subtype) and 1968 (H3N2 subtype) human influenza pandemics. Recent analyses of circulating isolates have shown that multiple genes can be recombined from human, avian, and swine influenza viruses, leading to triple reassortants. Understanding the factors that can affect influenza A virus reassortment is needed for the establishment of disease intervention strategies that may reduce or preclude pandemics. The findings from this study show that swine cells provide a mixing vessel for influenza virus reassortment independent of differential sialic acid distribution. The findings also establish that circulating neuraminidase (NA) and PA genes could alter the pathogenic phenotype of the pandemic H1N1 virus, resulting in enhanced disease. The identification of such factors provides a framework for pandemic modeling and surveillance.

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Divergent Human-Origin Influenza Viruses Detected in Australian Swine Populations

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00316-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 92 (16) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Frank Y. K. Wong ◽

Celeste Donato ◽

Yi-Mo Deng ◽

Don Teng ◽

Naomi Komadina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Swine Influenza ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Antigenic Drift ◽

Human Origin ◽

Human Influenza ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

Data Set ◽

Antigenic Properties

ABSTRACTGlobal swine populations infected with influenza A viruses pose a persistent pandemic risk. With the exception of a few countries, our understanding of the genetic diversity of swine influenza viruses is limited, hampering control measures and pandemic risk assessment. Here we report the genomic characteristics and evolutionary history of influenza A viruses isolated in Australia from 2012 to 2016 from two geographically isolated swine populations in the states of Queensland and Western Australia. Phylogenetic analysis with an expansive human and swine influenza virus data set comprising >40,000 sequences sampled globally revealed evidence of the pervasive introduction and long-term establishment of gene segments derived from several human influenza viruses of past seasons, including the H1N1/1977, H1N1/1995, H3N2/1968, and H3N2/2003, and the H1N1 2009 pandemic (H1N1pdm09) influenza A viruses, and a genotype that contained gene segments derived from the past three pandemics (1968, reemerged 1977, and 2009). Of the six human-derived gene lineages, only one, comprising two viruses isolated in Queensland during 2012, was closely related to swine viruses detected from other regions, indicating a previously undetected circulation of Australian swine lineages for approximately 3 to 44 years. Although the date of introduction of these lineages into Australian swine populations could not be accurately ascertained, we found evidence of sustained transmission of two lineages in swine from 2012 to 2016. The continued detection of human-origin influenza virus lineages in swine over several decades with little or unpredictable antigenic drift indicates that isolated swine populations can act as antigenic archives of human influenza viruses, raising the risk of reemergence in humans when sufficient susceptible populations arise.IMPORTANCEWe describe the evolutionary origins and antigenic properties of influenza A viruses isolated from two separate Australian swine populations from 2012 to 2016, showing that these viruses are distinct from each other and from those isolated from swine globally. Whole-genome sequencing of virus isolates revealed a high genotypic diversity that had been generated exclusively through the introduction and establishment of human influenza viruses that circulated in past seasons. We detected six reassortants with gene segments derived from human H1N1/H1N1pdm09 and various human H3N2 viruses that circulated during various periods since 1968. We also found that these swine viruses were not related to swine viruses collected elsewhere, indicating independent circulation. The detection of unique lineages and genotypes in Australia suggests that isolated swine populations that are sufficiently large can sustain influenza virus for extensive periods; we show direct evidence of a sustained transmission for at least 4 years between 2012 and 2016.

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Dynamic phospho-modification of viral proteins as a crucial regulatory layer of influenza A virus replication and innate immune responses

Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1515/hsz-2021-0241 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Yvonne Boergeling ◽

Linda Brunotte ◽

Stephan Ludwig

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Virus Replication ◽

Influenza A ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Viral Proteins ◽

Transport Processes ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Innate Immune ◽

A Genome ◽

Influenza Virus Replication

Abstract Influenza viruses are small RNA viruses with a genome of about 13 kb. Because of this limited coding capacity, viral proteins have evolved to fulfil multiple functions in the infected cell. This implies that there must be mechanisms allowing to dynamically direct protein action to a distinct activity in a spatio-temporal manner. Furthermore, viruses exploit many cellular processes, which also have to be dynamically regulated during the viral replication cycle. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins are fundamental for the control of many cellular responses. There is accumulating evidence that this mechanism represents a so far underestimated level of regulation in influenza virus replication. Here, we focus on the current knowledge of dynamics of phospho-modifications in influenza virus replication and show recent examples of findings underlining the crucial role of phosphorylation in viral transport processes as well as activation and counteraction of the innate immune response.

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A compensatory mutagenesis study of a conserved hairpin in the M gene segment of influenza A virus shows its role in virus replication

RNA Biology ◽

10.1080/15476286.2017.1338243 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 1606-1616 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M. I. Spronken ◽

C. E. van de Sandt ◽

E. P. de Jongh ◽

O. Vuong ◽

S. van der Vliet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza A Virus ◽

Virus Replication ◽

Influenza A ◽

Gene Segment ◽

M Gene ◽

Mutagenesis Study

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Infection of a child in Hong Kong by an influenza A H3N2 virus closely related to viruses circulating in European pigs

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/0022-1317-82-6-1397 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 82 (6) ◽

pp. 1397-1406 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

V. Gregory ◽

W. Lim ◽

K. Cameron ◽

M. Bennett ◽

S. Marozin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Influenza A ◽

Southern China ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

H3n2 Virus ◽

Human Influenza ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Source Of Infection ◽

Human Viruses

Influenza virus A/Hong Kong/1774/99, isolated from a young child with mild influenza, was shown to be similar in its antigenic and genetic characteristics to H3N2 viruses circulating in pigs in Europe during the 1990s and in particular to be closely related to viruses isolated from two children in the Netherlands in 1993. Similar viruses had previously not been identified outside Europe. Although there is little evidence as to how the child contracted the infection, it appears likely that pigs in southern China were the source of infection. Characteristics shared with the European swine viruses include resistance to the anti-influenza drugs amantadine and rimantadine. Thus not only does this incident once again highlight the potential of pigs as a source of novel human influenza viruses, but also indicates the potential for emergence of amantadine-resistant human viruses.

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An influenza reassortant with polymerase of pH1N1 and NS gene of H3N2 influenza A virus is attenuated in vivo

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/vir.0.039701-0 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 93 (5) ◽

pp. 998-1006 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Holly Shelton ◽

Matt Smith ◽

Lorian Hartgroves ◽

Peter Stilwell ◽

Kim Roberts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Mdck Cells ◽

Gene Segment ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Interferon Response ◽

H3n2 Virus ◽

M Gene ◽

Ns Gene

Influenza viruses readily mutate by accumulating point mutations and also by reassortment in which they acquire whole gene segments from another virus in a co-infected host. The NS1 gene is a major virulence factor of influenza A virus. The effects of changes in NS1 sequence depend on the influenza polymerase constellation. Here, we investigated the consequences of a virus with the polymerase of pandemic H1N1 2009 acquiring an NS gene segment derived from a seasonal influenza A H3N2 virus, a combination that might arise during natural reassortment of viruses that currently circulate in humans. We generated recombinant influenza viruses with surface HA and NA genes and matrix M gene segment from A/PR/8/34 virus, but different combinations of polymerase and NS genes. Thus, any changes in phenotype were not due to differences in receptor use, entry, uncoating or virus release. In Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, the virus with the NS gene from the H3N2 parent showed enhanced replication, probably a result of increased control of the interferon response. However, in mice the same virus was attenuated in comparison with the virus containing homologous pH1N1 polymerase and NS genes. Levels of viral RNA during single-cycles of replication were lower for the virus with H3N2 NS, and this virus reached lower titres in the lungs of infected mice. Thus, virus with pH1N1 polymerase genes did not increase its virulence by acquiring the H3N2 NS gene segment, and MDCK cells were a poor predictor of the outcome of infection in vivo.

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Intrahost Dynamics of Antiviral Resistance in Influenza A Virus Reflect Complex Patterns of Segment Linkage, Reassortment, and Natural Selection

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.02464-14 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Matthew B. Rogers ◽

Timothy Song ◽

Robert Sebra ◽

Benjamin D. Greenbaum ◽

Marie-Eve Hamelin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Influenza Virus ◽

Natural Selection ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Antiviral Resistance ◽

Human Influenza ◽

Individual Host ◽

Complex Patterns

ABSTRACT Resistance following antiviral therapy is commonly observed in human influenza viruses. Although this evolutionary process is initiated within individual hosts, little is known about the pattern, dynamics, and drivers of antiviral resistance at this scale, including the role played by reassortment. In addition, the short duration of human influenza virus infections limits the available time window in which to examine intrahost evolution. Using single-molecule sequencing, we mapped, in detail, the mutational spectrum of an H3N2 influenza A virus population sampled from an immunocompromised patient who shed virus over a 21-month period. In this unique natural experiment, we were able to document the complex dynamics underlying the evolution of antiviral resistance. Individual resistance mutations appeared weeks before they became dominant, evolved independently on cocirculating lineages, led to a genome-wide reduction in genetic diversity through a selective sweep, and were placed into new combinations by reassortment. Notably, despite frequent reassortment, phylogenetic analysis also provided evidence for specific patterns of segment linkage, with a strong association between the hemagglutinin (HA)- and matrix (M)-encoding segments that matches that previously observed at the epidemiological scale. In sum, we were able to reveal, for the first time, the complex interaction between multiple evolutionary processes as they occur within an individual host. IMPORTANCE Understanding the evolutionary forces that shape the genetic diversity of influenza virus is crucial for predicting the emergence of drug-resistant strains but remains challenging because multiple processes occur concurrently. We characterized the evolution of antiviral resistance in a single persistent influenza virus infection, representing the first case in which reassortment and the complex patterns of drug resistance emergence and evolution have been determined within an individual host. Deep-sequence data from multiple time points revealed that the evolution of antiviral resistance reflects a combination of frequent mutation, natural selection, and a complex pattern of segment linkage and reassortment. In sum, these data show how immunocompromised hosts may help reveal the drivers of strain emergence.

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Differential Recognition of Influenza A Viruses by M158–66Epitope-Specific CD8+T Cells Is Determined by Extraepitopic Amino Acid Residues

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02439-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 90 (2) ◽

pp. 1009-1022 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Carolien E. van de Sandt ◽

Joost H. C. M. Kreijtz ◽

Martina M. Geelhoed-Mieras ◽

Nella J. Nieuwkoop ◽

Monique I. Spronken ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Rational Design ◽

Amino Acid Residues ◽

Virus Infections ◽

Human Influenza ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

Specific Ctls ◽

Naturally Occurring

ABSTRACTNatural influenza A virus infections elicit both virus-specific antibody and CD4+and CD8+T cell responses. Influenza A virus-specific CD8+cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) contribute to clearance of influenza virus infections. Viral CTL epitopes can display variation, allowing influenza A viruses to evade recognition by epitope-specific CTLs. Due to functional constraints, some epitopes, like the immunodominant HLA-A*0201-restricted matrix protein 1 (M158–66) epitope, are highly conserved between influenza A viruses regardless of their subtype or host species of origin. We hypothesized that human influenza A viruses evade recognition of this epitope by impairing antigen processing and presentation by extraepitopic amino acid substitutions. Activation of specific T cells was used as an indication of antigen presentation. Here, we show that the M158–66epitope in the M1 protein derived from human influenza A virus was poorly recognized compared to the M1 protein derived from avian influenza A virus. Furthermore, we demonstrate that naturally occurring variations at extraepitopic amino acid residues affect CD8+T cell recognition of the M158–66epitope. These data indicate that human influenza A viruses can impair recognition by M158–66-specific CTLs while retaining the conserved amino acid sequence of the epitope, which may represent a yet-unknown immune evasion strategy for influenza A viruses. This difference in recognition may have implications for the viral replication kinetics in HLA-A*0201 individuals and spread of influenza A viruses in the human population. The findings may aid the rational design of universal influenza vaccines that aim at the induction of cross-reactive virus-specific CTL responses.IMPORTANCEInfluenza viruses are an important cause of acute respiratory tract infections. Natural influenza A virus infections elicit both humoral and cellular immunity. CD8+cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are directed predominantly against conserved internal proteins and confer cross-protection, even against influenza A viruses of various subtypes. In some CTL epitopes, mutations occur that allow influenza A viruses to evade recognition by CTLs. However, the immunodominant HLA-A*0201-restricted M158–66epitope does not tolerate mutations without loss of viral fitness. Here, we describe naturally occurring variations in amino acid residues outside the M158–66epitope that influence the recognition of the epitope. These results provide novel insights into the epidemiology of influenza A viruses and their pathogenicity and may aid rational design of vaccines that aim at the induction of CTL responses.

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The NS1 Protein of a Human Influenza Virus Inhibits Type I Interferon Production and the Induction of Antiviral Responses in Primary Human Dendritic and Respiratory Epithelial Cells

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02323-08 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 83 (13) ◽

pp. 6849-6862 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Kester Haye ◽

Svetlana Burmakina ◽

Thomas Moran ◽

Adolfo García-Sastre ◽

Ana Fernandez-Sesma

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Viral Replication ◽

Influenza A ◽

Type I Interferon ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Type I ◽

Ns1 Protein ◽

Human Influenza ◽

Human Influenza Virus

ABSTRACT The NS1 protein of the influenza A virus is a potent virulence factor that inhibits type I interferon (IFN) synthesis, allowing the virus to overcome host defenses and replicate efficiently. However, limited studies have been conducted on NS1 function using human virus strains and primary human cells. We used NS1 truncated mutant influenza viruses derived from the human isolate influenza A/TX/91 (TX WT, where WT is wild type) to study the functions of NS1 in infected primary cells. Infection of primary differentiated human tracheo-bronchial epithelial cells with an NS1 truncated mutant demonstrated limited viral replication and enhanced type I IFN induction. Additionally, human dendritic cells (DCs) infected with human NS1 mutant viruses showed higher levels of activation and stimulated naïve T-cells better than TX WT virus-infected DCs. We also compared infections of DCs with TX WT and our previously characterized laboratory strain A/PR/8/34 (PR8) and its NS1 knockout strain, deltaNS1. TX WT-infected DCs displayed higher viral replication than PR8 but had decreased antiviral gene expression at late time points and reduced naïve T-cell stimulation compared to PR8 infections, suggesting an augmented inhibition of IFN production and human DC activation. Our findings show that human-derived influenza A viruses have a high capacity to inhibit the antiviral state in a human system, and here we have evaluated the possible mechanism of this inhibition. Lastly, C-terminal truncations in the NS1 protein of human influenza virus are sufficient to make the virus attenuated and more immunogenic, supporting its use as a live attenuated influenza vaccine in humans.

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