scholarly journals Reassortment between Avian H5N1 and Human H3N2 Influenza Viruses in Ferrets: a Public Health Risk Assessment

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (16) ◽  
pp. 8131-8140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Jackson ◽  
Neal Van Hoeven ◽  
Li-Mei Chen ◽  
Taronna R. Maines ◽  
Nancy J. Cox ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether transmissible H5 subtype human-avian reassortant viruses could be generated in vivo. To this end, ferrets were coinfected with recent avian H5N1 (A/Thailand/16/04) and human H3N2 (A/Wyoming/3/03) viruses. Genotype analyses of plaque-purified viruses from nasal secretions of coinfected ferrets revealed that approximately 9% of recovered viruses contained genes from both progenitor viruses. H5 and H3 subtype viruses, including reassortants, were found in airways extending toward and in the upper respiratory tract of ferrets. However, only parental H5N1 genotype viruses were found in lung tissue. Approximately 34% of the recovered reassortant viruses possessed the H5 hemagglutinin (HA) gene, with five unique H5 subtypes recovered. These H5 reassortants were selected for further studies to examine their growth and transmissibility characteristics. Five H5 viruses with representative reassortant genotypes showed reduced titers in nasal secretions of infected ferrets compared to the parental H5N1 virus. No transmission by direct contact between infected and naïve ferrets was observed. These studies indicate that reassortment between H5N1 avian influenza and H3N2 human viruses occurred readily in vivo and furthermore that reassortment between these two viral subtypes is likely to occur in ferret upper airways. Given the relatively high incidence of reassortant viruses from tissues of the ferret upper airway, it is reasonable to conclude that continued exposure of humans and animals to H5N1 alongside seasonal influenza viruses increases the risk of generating H5 subtype reassortant viruses that may be shed from upper airway secretions.

2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 5398-5404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascale Massin ◽  
Sylvie van der Werf ◽  
Nadia Naffakh

ABSTRACT Human influenza A viruses replicate in the upper respiratory tract at a temperature of about 33°C, whereas avian viruses replicate in the intestinal tract at a temperature close to 41°C. In the present study, we analyzed the influence of low temperature (33°C) on RNA replication of avian and human viruses in cultured cells. The kinetics of replication of the NP segment were similar at 33 and 37°C for the human A/Puerto-Rico/8/34 and A/Sydney/5/97 viruses, whereas replication was delayed at 33°C compared to 37°C for the avian A/FPV/Rostock/34 and A/Mallard/NY/6750/78 viruses. Making use of a genetic system for the in vivo reconstitution of functional ribonucleoproteins, we observed that the polymerase complexes derived from avian viruses but not human viruses exhibited cold sensitivity in mammalian cells, which was determined mostly by residue 627 of PB2. Our results suggest that a reduced ability of the polymerase complex of avian viruses to ensure replication of the viral genome at 33°C could contribute to their inability to grow efficiently in humans.


2004 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-92
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Janosevic ◽  
Slobodanka Janosevic ◽  
P. Stankovic ◽  
V. Djukic ◽  
S. Stosic-Divjak ◽  
...  

Almost one third to one half of all patients in otorhinolaryngologic practice experience some kind of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract out of which allergic mechanisms, either as primary factors or secondary ones, appear in 30-40% of adults and 60-80% of children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to analyze inflammatory conditions of the upper airways on the basis of allergic state of the patient and to establish the classification that will respect the actual immunological alteration level (subclinical allergy, clinical allergy) and spreading (localized allergy, generalized allergy). Inclusion criteria for all sixty nine patients were the diagnosis of chronic upper airway inflammation and their exposition just lo ubiquitous allergens. Diagnostic procedure included anamnesis, physical examination and allergic in vivo testing of the skin and nasal mucosa to inhalant allergens. The certain categories of results were established for the skin prick-test (positive, negative, indefinite), specific nasal provocation test (positive, negative, hyperreactive) and nasal symptoms (present, absent). By using a strictly determined combination of results, we were able to define the six groups in our classification: nasal clinical allergy (30% of patients), non-nasal clinical allergy (19% of patients), localized nasal allergy (11% of patients), latent allergy (3% of patient), nonspecific nasal hyperreactivity (12% of patient) and non-allergic inflammation (25% of patients). Our classification takes into consideration the modem knowledge in the field of allergology and may bring an additional quality in respect to selection of therapy options, long-term follow-up of allergy status evolution in the individual person as well as intragroup and intergroup analysis of parameters important to evaluate the effects of antiallergic prevention or therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (04) ◽  
pp. e434-e437
Author(s):  
Luciane Mazzini Steffen ◽  
Luise Sgarabotto Pezzin ◽  
Natassia Sulis ◽  
Nedio Steffen ◽  
Leonardo Araujo Pinto

Abstract Introduction Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that limits the quality of life mainly due to respiratory symptoms. The relationship between findings of the upper airways and CF lung disease is not yet completely understood. Objective The aim of the present study is to describe the most frequent nasal findings and pathogens in patients with CF and investigate the association between the findings of the upper respiratory tract and markers of lung disease progression. Methods Retrospective study in patients with CF from the Pediatric Pulmonology Department who underwent otorhinolaryngological evaluation between 2015 and 2017. Nasal endoscopy and nasal swab collection were part of the evaluation. The severity markers used were: percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%), body mass index (BMI) and the Shwachman-Kulczycki (SK) clinical score. Results A total of 48 patients with CF were included. The mean of the predicted percentage of FEV1% was 83.36 ± 30.04. The average 14 and SK score 89.11 ± 10.50. The bacteriology of the nasal swab was positive in 27 (54.1%) patients. Staphylococcus aureus was positive in 18 patients, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 5, Pseudomonas cepacea in 3 and Stenotrophomonas maltophila in 1 patient. Nasal polyps were found in nine participants. Nasal polyps were found in nine participants and were associated with lower SK score. Conclusion The pathogens found in the upper airway were, in order: S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, P. cepacea e S. maltophila. The presence of polyps in the nasal cavity showed statistical significance and appears to have association with the prognostic factor measured by the SK score.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 4796-4806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham D. Williams ◽  
Amelia K. Pinto ◽  
Brittany Doll ◽  
Adrianus C. M. Boon

ABSTRACTReassortment between H5 or H9 subtype avian and mammalian influenza A viruses (IAV) can generate a novel virus that causes disease and transmits between mammals. Such information is currently not available for H7 subtype viruses. We evaluated the ability of a low-pathogenicity North American avian H7N3 virus (A/shorebird/Delaware/22/2006) to reassort with mammalian or avian viruses using a plasmid-based competition assay. In addition to genome segments derived from an avian H7N9 virus, the H7N3 virus reassorted efficiently with the PB2, NA, and M segments from the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (PH1N1) virus.In vitroandin vivoevaluation of the H7N3:PH1N1 (7 + 1) reassortant viruses revealed that the PB2, NA, or M segments fromPH1N1 largely do not attenuate the H7N3 virus, whereas the PB1, PA, NP, or NS genome segments fromPH1N1 do. Additionally, we assessed the functionality of the H7N3:PH1N1 7 + 1 reassortant viruses by measuring the inflammatory responsein vivo. We found that infection with wild-type H7N3 resulted in increased inflammatory cytokine production relative to that seen with thePH1N1 strain and that the increase was further exacerbated by substitution ofPH1N1 PB2 but not NA or M. Finally, we assessed if any adaptations occurred in the individually substituted segments afterin vivoinoculation and found no mutations, suggesting thatPH1N1 PB2, NA, and M are genetically stable in the background of this H7N3 virus. Taking the data together, we demonstrate that a North American avian H7N3 IAV is genetically and functionally compatible with multiple gene segments from the 2009 pandemic influenza virus strain without prior adaptation.IMPORTANCEThe 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus continues to circulate and reassort with other influenza viruses, creating novel viruses with increased replication and transmission potential in humans. Previous studies have found that this virus can also reassort with H5N1 and H9N2 avian influenza viruses. We now show that several genome segments of the 2009 H1N1 virus are also highly compatible with a low-pathogenicity avian H7N3 virus and that these reassortant viruses are stable and not attenuated in an animal model. These results highlight the potential for reassortment of H1N1 viruses with avian influenza virus and emphasize the need for continued surveillance of influenza viruses in areas of cocirculation between avian, human, and swine viruses.


1995 ◽  
Vol 104 (5) ◽  
pp. 388-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Cervin ◽  
Sven Lindberg ◽  
Jan Dolata ◽  
Ulf Mercke

Xanthine derivatives are known to accelerate mucociliary transport in the lower airways, probably by preventing degradation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and thereby increasing its intracellular concentration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cAMP on mucociliary activity in the upper airways. The effect on the mucociliary activity in the rabbit maxillary sinus of the xanthine derivatives theophylline and enprophylline was compared to that of the cAMP analog dibutyryl cAMP. The compounds were administered into the maxillary artery, and the response was recorded with a photoelectric technique. Infusions of theophylline (1.0 and 10 mg/kg) increased mucociliary activity (22.8% ± 5.9%, n = 6, and 21.6% ± 4.9%, n = 7, p < .05, respectively). Infusions of enprophylline (1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) accelerated mucociliary activity (at the highest dosage tested, 24.3% ± 4.1%). Infusions of dibutyryl cAMP (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) stimulated mucociliary activity, with the maximum increase (20.1% ± 3.0%, n = 13, p < .05) being observed at a dosage of 0.1 mg/kg. The infused substances increased mucociliary activity within 1 minute after the start of the infusion, the duration of the response being approximately 20 minutes for theophylline, 22 minutes for enprophylline, and 12 minutes for dibutyryl cAMP. The present results support the view that cAMP is involved in regulating mucociliary activity in the upper airways. It remains to be elucidated whether xanthines such as theophylline and enprophylline are beneficial in upper airway disease in which mucociliary function is impaired (eg, chronic sinusitis).


2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Halina Ey-Chmielewska ◽  
Iwona Teul ◽  
Jacek Lorkowski

Introduction: Abnormal breathing can be caused by developmental malformations or anatomical variations in the upper airways. Stomatognathic diseases may significantly impair the patency of the upper respiratory tract. Treatment of advanced stomatognathic dysfunctions is difficult due to their multifactorial aetiology, and often involves many phases. Sleep apnoea is one of the most bothersome complications. The mainstay therapeutic strategy relies on modifying the position of the mandible against the maxilla, achieved by using different types of oral appliances.Material and methods: The study was carried out in 2006–2010 on 92 patients (mean age 42.5 years) with diagnosed advanced dysfunction of the stomatognathic system. The treatment relied on the use of an orthodontic appliance (54 patients) or combined multi­‍‑phase therapy with splints used in the first phase (22 patients). Two different appliances were used (one of them was modified by the authors). Parameters assessed in the study included time to resolution of pain, reduction in the incidence of sleep apnoea, and improvement in nasal breathing.Results: Change in the protrusion of the mandible not only relieved problems with the stomatognathic system, but also improved breathing in patients. The use of modified oral appliances reduced treatment duration and improved patients’ comfort. Therefore, it may be useful in the treatment of patients with mild sleep apnoea.


2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangjie Sun ◽  
Joanna A. Pulit-Penaloza ◽  
Jessica A. Belser ◽  
Claudia Pappas ◽  
Melissa B. Pearce ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWhile several swine-origin influenza A H3N2 variant (H3N2v) viruses isolated from humans prior to 2011 have been previously characterized for their virulence and transmissibility in ferrets, the recent genetic and antigenic divergence of H3N2v viruses warrants an updated assessment of their pandemic potential. Here, four contemporary H3N2v viruses isolated during 2011 to 2016 were evaluated for their replicative ability in bothin vitroandin vivoin mammalian models as well as their transmissibility among ferrets. We found that all four H3N2v viruses possessed similar or enhanced replication capacities in a human bronchial epithelium cell line (Calu-3) compared to a human seasonal influenza virus, suggestive of strong fitness in human respiratory tract cells. The majority of H3N2v viruses examined in our study were mildly virulent in mice and capable of replicating in mouse lungs with different degrees of efficiency. In ferrets, all four H3N2v viruses caused moderate morbidity and exhibited comparable titers in the upper respiratory tract, but only 2 of the 4 viruses replicated in the lower respiratory tract in this model. Furthermore, despite efficient transmission among cohoused ferrets, recently isolated H3N2v viruses displayed considerable variance in their ability to transmit by respiratory droplets. The lack of a full understanding of the molecular correlates of virulence and transmission underscores the need for close genotypic and phenotypic monitoring of H3N2v viruses and the importance of continued surveillance to improve pandemic preparedness.IMPORTANCESwine-origin influenza viruses of the H3N2 subtype, with the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) derived from historic human seasonal influenza viruses, continue to cross species barriers and cause human infections, posing an indelible threat to public health. To help us better understand the potential risk associated with swine-origin H3N2v viruses that emerged in the United States during the 2011-2016 influenza seasons, we use bothin vitroandin vivomodels to characterize the abilities of these viruses to replicate, cause disease, and transmit in mammalian hosts. The efficient respiratory droplet transmission exhibited by some of the H3N2v viruses in the ferret model combined with the existing evidence of low immunity against such viruses in young children and older adults highlight their pandemic potential. Extensive surveillance and risk assessment of H3N2v viruses should continue to be an essential component of our pandemic preparedness strategy.


2002 ◽  
Vol 55 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 397-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nevenka Roncevic-Babin ◽  
Jelena Popadic ◽  
Aleksandra Stojadinovic

Introduction Acute respiratory tract infections are the most common diseases of childhood. A preschool child suffers up to 5-7 infections of upper airways during a year. Upper airway infections make 80 - 90% of all respiratory infections. Etiology and treatment In 75% of all cases respiratory infections are of viral etiology, 15% of bacterial and 10% are caused by mycoplasma, rickettsiae, fungi, parasites. The treatment of respiratory infections includes antimicrobial therapy (causal), relief of symptoms (symptomatic) and application of general principles of child treatment. The choice of antimicrobial drug is based on the evidence of agents and their sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs, age, patient's condition, previous treatment and possible allergic reactions to the drug. In cases where adequate specimen cannot be obtained for microbiologic tests, when these tests do not reveal the agent, or therapy must start before evidence of the agent is available, we must decide about the therapy, taking in consideration the most frequent agents, and those that would cause the most devastating clinical picture. This therapy can be modified later, according to the isolated agent and its sensitivity to the drug. Considering the incidence and importance of respiratory infections in morbidity and mortality of children, the aim of this article was to present guidelines in treatment of respiratory infections. The main point remains that the treatment should take into consideration the individual patient before all.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 1800742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Van Crombruggen ◽  
Sylvie Taveirne ◽  
Gabriele Holtappels ◽  
Georges Leclercq ◽  
Claus Bachert

Although type 1, 2 and 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s, ILC2s and ILC3s, respectively) are emerging as important cell populations regulating tissue homeostasis, remodelling and inflammation, a vast majority of our knowledge stems from in vitro and murine experiments, and requires thorough confirmation in human diseases.Relative levels of ILCs were evaluated by means of flow cytometry in freshly resected human upper airways mucosa of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), taking into account the patient's clinical parameters and disease comorbidities.We report that the CD117 and interleukin-receptor type I (IL-1RI) expression status of human ILC2s depends on the local tissue environment. Only CD117+ IL-1RI+ ILC2s, exclusively present in CRSwNP, possess an interrelationship with type 2 T-helper cell cytokine and eosinophil levels in human upper airway mucosa. In CRSsNP, mainly CD117−IL-1RI− ILC2s are increased, yielding lower eosinophilia in this disease despite the high levels of ILC2s.These data unveil that the CD117− and CD117+ fractions within the native human ILC2 population are not a random phenomenon, in contrast to what could be concluded from in vitro data, and that the IL-1RI expression is not ubiquitous in ILC2s in vivo in humans, which cannot be assessed via in vitro and murine experiments.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (25) ◽  
pp. 47-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ionut Tanase ◽  
Claudiu Manea ◽  
Codrut Sarafoleanu

AbstractUsually, patients with sleep disorders may complain of tiredness, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, difficulty in concentrating, and can reach up to falling asleep in inappropriate situations – condition known as the Pickwick syndrome. To avoid these unpleasant symptoms, a series of surgical procedures regarding the anatomical structures involved in sleep apnea were developed.The article is a general review regarding the sleep disorders and the influence of upper airways permeability on the quality of sleep and the sleep staging distribution. Also, we present some preliminary data obtained in a clinical study underwent in CESITO Centre “Sfanta Maria” Hospital, Bucharest, involving patients with sleep pathology that had polysomnographic evaluations before and after various surgical procedures of nasal and pharyngeal permeabilization.AIMS.To determine that permeabilization surgery of the upper airway tract may be used successfully in order to decrease the sleep fragmentation and increase the time of slow-wave sleep.CONCLUSION.6 months after the permeabilization surgery of the upper airway tract, the polysomnography reveals that the arousals index decreased and the sleep architecture undergoes changes that consist in decreasing the Stage 1 and Stage 2 sleep, therefore REM sleep reaches a better score.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document