scholarly journals Pathogenesis and Transmission of Genetically Diverse Swine-Origin H3N2 Variant Influenza A Viruses from Multiple Lineages Isolated in the United States, 2011–2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangjie Sun ◽  
Joanna A. Pulit-Penaloza ◽  
Jessica A. Belser ◽  
Claudia Pappas ◽  
Melissa B. Pearce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
The United States ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness

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.

scholarly journals Kallikrein-Related Peptidase 5 Contributes to H3N2 Influenza Virus Infection in Human Lungs

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélia Magnen ◽  
Fabien Gueugnon ◽  
Antoine Guillon ◽  
Thomas Baranek ◽  
Virginie C. Thibault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Lower Respiratory Tract ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
H3n2 Virus ◽  
Influenza A Viruses

ABSTRACT Hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus must be activated by proteolysis before the virus can become infectious. Previous studies indicated that HA cleavage is driven by membrane-bound or extracellular serine proteases in the respiratory tract. However, there is still uncertainty as to which proteases are critical for activating HAs of seasonal influenza A viruses (IAVs) in humans. This study focuses on human KLK1 and KLK5, 2 of the 15 serine proteases known as the kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs). We find that their mRNA expression in primary human bronchial cells is stimulated by IAV infection. Both enzymes cleaved recombinant HA from several strains of the H1 and/or H3 virus subtype in vitro, but only KLK5 promoted the infectivity of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) and A/Scotland/20/74 (H3N2) virions in MDCK cells. We assessed the ability of treated viruses to initiate influenza in mice. The nasal instillation of only the KLK5-treated virus resulted in weight loss and lethal outcomes. The secretion of this protease in the human lower respiratory tract is enhanced during influenza. Moreover, we show that pretreatment of airway secretions with a KLK5-selective inhibitor significantly reduced the activation of influenza A/Scotland/20/74 virions, providing further evidence of its importance. Differently, increased KLK1 secretion appeared to be associated with the recruitment of inflammatory cells in human airways regardless of the origin of inflammation. Thus, our findings point to the involvement of KLK5 in the proteolytic activation and spread of seasonal influenza viruses in humans. IMPORTANCE Influenza A viruses (IAVs) cause acute infection of the respiratory tract that affects millions of people during seasonal outbreaks every year. Cleavage of the hemagglutinin precursor by host proteases is a critical step in the life cycle of these viruses. Consequently, host proteases that activate HA can be considered promising targets for the development of new antivirals. However, the specific proteases that activate seasonal influenza viruses, especially H3N2 viruses, in the human respiratory tract have remain undefined despite many years of work. Here we demonstrate that the secreted, extracellular protease KLK5 (kallikrein-related peptidase 5) is efficient in promoting the infectivity of H3N2 IAV in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that its secretion was selectively enhanced in the human lower respiratory tract during a seasonal outbreak dominated by an H3N2 virus. Collectively, our data support the clinical relevance of this protease in human influenza pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Factors Associated with Relative Rates of Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates Tested in Clinical Laboratories in the United States from 1999 to 2002

2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 2431-2436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert K. Flamm ◽  
Mellany K. Weaver ◽  
Clyde Thornsberry ◽  
Mark E. Jones ◽  
James A. Karlowsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
The United States ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Old Patients

ABSTRACT For the period from 1999 to 2002 in the United States, the in vitro susceptibilities of 52,637 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to 10 antimicrobial agents were evaluated. The isolates were from 29 laboratories, 11 of which participated in The Surveillance Network for four consecutive years. Isolates were collected from adult patients (≥18 years of age) in intensive care units (ICU), non-ICU inpatients, nursing home patients, and outpatients; data were analyzed to evaluate factors, such as year of isolation, patient age group, isolate specimen source, and patient type (hospitalized patients [ICU, non-ICU, or nursing home] or outpatients). Rates of resistance for the 4-year period were highest for isolates from patients in ICU and 18- to 39-year-old patients and for isolates from the lower respiratory tract. Resistance decreased with age. Resistance was lowest in isolates from outpatients, in isolates from ≥70-year-old patients, and from specimens from the upper respiratory tract. Multidrug resistance (MDR) (resistance to three or more antimicrobial agents) accounted for 24.9% of all isolates. The MDR rate was highest in isolates from patients in nursing homes (29.9%) and ICU (29.5%).

scholarly journals 97. Competition Experiments for the Baloxavir-Resistant I38T Influenza A Mutant

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S9-S9
Author(s):  
Liva Checkmahomed ◽  
Zeineb Mhamdi ◽  
Julie Carbonneau ◽  
Mariana Baz ◽  
Yacine Abed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Mdck Cells ◽  
Digital Pcr ◽  
The United States ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Viral Fitness ◽  
Copy Numbers

Abstract Background Baloxavir marboxil (BXM), a cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, has been recently approved in the United States for the treatment of influenza infections. It is superior to oseltamivir for reducing the time of viral shedding but is reported to have a low barrier of resistance. We sought to evaluate the viral fitness of the predominant BXM-resistant I38T PA mutant in the A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 viral backgrounds. Methods Recombinant A/Quebec/144147/2009 (H1N1) and A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2) influenza viruses and their respective I38T PA mutants were generated by reverse genetics. Standardized inoculums (500 PFUs) of wild-type (WT) and mutant mixtures were inoculated on α2,6 MDCK cells. On day 3 post-infection (pi), the supernatants were collected and the ratios of WT/mutant viruses were determined by droplet digital PCR using specific LNA probes. Single infections and competitive experiments were also performed in C56/BL6 mice with quantification of lung viral titers on days 3 and 6 pi. Results In vitro A/H1N1 studies showed similar total copy numbers for the WT and mutant viruses on day 3 pi (1.2 × 109 and 1.3 × 109 copies/mL, respectively). The initial 50%/50% mixture became 70%/30% (WT/mutant) after one passage in cells. For A/H3N2, the total copy numbers were 8.1 × 109 and 1.0 × 109 copies/mL for the WT and mutant viruses. The initial 50%/50% mixture became 94%/6% (WT/mutant) after one passage. The I38T mutants remained stable after 4 passages in α2,6 MDCK cells. In mice, the A/H1N1 WT and I38T mutant induced similar weight loss and generated comparable lung titers on days 3 and 6 pi. In contrast, the weight loss of the A/H3N2 mutant was greater than that of the WT between days 3 and 7 pi with comparable lung titers on days 3 and 6. Following infection with 50%/50% mixtures, the mutant virus predominated over the WT on day 3 pi (73% A/H1N1 and 58% A/H3N2). Conclusion The BXM-resistant I38T PA mutant replicates well both in vitro and in vivo in the A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 backgrounds. Surveillance for the emergence and transmission of such mutant in the community is required. Disclosures All Authors: No reported Disclosures.

scholarly journals Comparative Study of the Temperature Sensitive, Cold Adapted and Attenuated Mutations Present in the Master Donor Viruses of the Two Commercial Human Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Rodriguez ◽  
Pilar Blanco-Lobo ◽  
Emma C. Reilly ◽  
Tatsuya Maehigashi ◽  
Aitor Nogales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Influenza Vaccines ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Cold Adapted ◽  
Ann Arbor

Influenza viruses cause annual, seasonal infection across the globe. Vaccination represents the most effective strategy to prevent such infections and/or to reduce viral disease. Two major types of influenza vaccines are approved for human use: inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs) and live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs). Two Master Donor Virus (MDV) backbones have been used to create LAIVs against influenza A virus (IAV): the United States (US) A/Ann Arbor/6/60 (AA) and the Russian A/Leningrad/134/17/57 (Len) H2N2 viruses. The mutations responsible for the temperature sensitive (ts), cold-adapted (ca) and attenuated (att) phenotypes of the two MDVs have been previously identified and genetically mapped. However, a direct comparison of the contribution of these residues to viral attenuation, immunogenicity and protection efficacy has not been conducted. Here, we compared the In vitro and in vivo phenotype of recombinant influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 H1N1 (PR8) viruses containing the ts, ca and att mutations of the US (PR8/AA) and the Russian (PR8/Len) MDVs. Our results show that PR8/Len is more attenuated in vivo than PR8/AA, although both viruses induced similar levels of humoral and cellular responses, and protection against homologous and heterologous viral challenges. Our findings support the feasibility of using a different virus backbone as MDV for the development of improved LAIVs for the prevention of IAV infections.

scholarly journals Co-infection between influenza virus and flagellated bacteria

2005 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 275-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalva Assunção Portari Mancini ◽  
Rita Maria Zucatelli Mendonça ◽  
Andrea Luppi Fernandes Dias ◽  
Ronaldo Zucatelli Mendonça ◽  
José Ricardo Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Influenza Virus Infection ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Cell Entry ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract

Trypsin is required in the hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage to in vitro influenza viruses activation. This HA cleavage is necessary for virus cell entry by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Bacteria in the respiratory tract are potential sources of proteases that could contribute to the cleavage of influenza virus in vivo. From 47 samples collected from horses, pigs, and from humans, influenza presence was confirmed in 13 and these samples demonstrated co-infection of influenza with flagellated bacteria, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia from the beginning of the experiments. Despite treatment with antibiotics, the bacteria remained resistant in several of the co-infected samples (48.39%). These bacteria, considered opportunistic invaders from environmental sources, are associated with viral infections in upper respiratory tract of hosts. The protease (elastase), secreted by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia plays a role in the potentiation of influenza virus infection. Proteolytic activity was detected by casein agar test. Positive samples from animals and humans had either a potentiated influenza infectivity or cytopathic effect (CPE) in MDCK and NCI H292 cells, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were always present. Virus and bacteria were observed ultrastructurally. These in vitro findings show that microbial proteases could contribute to respiratory complications by host protease activity increasing inflammation or destroying endogenous cell protease inhibitors.

scholarly journals H5N2 Avian Influenza Outbreak in Texas in 2004: the First Highly Pathogenic Strain in the United States in 20 Years?

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (17) ◽  
pp. 11412-11421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-Won Lee ◽  
David E. Swayne ◽  
Jose A. Linares ◽  
Dennis A. Senne ◽  
David L. Suarez
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Cleavage Site ◽  
Basic Amino Acid ◽  
The United States ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Single Point Mutation ◽  
Highly Pathogenic

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.

scholarly journals In VitroSusceptibility of Canine Influenza A (H3N8) Virus to Nitazoxanide and Tizoxanide

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura V. Ashton ◽  
Robert L. Callan ◽  
Sangeeta Rao ◽  
Gabriele A. Landolt
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
The United States ◽  
Canine Influenza Virus ◽  
Valuable Adjunct ◽  
Canine Influenza ◽  
The Impact ◽  
H3n8 Virus

Infection of dogs with canine influenza virus (CIV) is considered widespread throughout the United States following the first isolation of CIV in 2004. While vaccination against influenza A infection is a common and important practice for disease control, antiviral therapy can serve as a valuable adjunct in controlling the impact of the disease. In this study, we examined the antiviral activity of nitazoxanide (NTZ) and tizoxanide (TIZ) against three CIV isolatesin vitro. NTZ and TIZ inhibited virus replication of all CIVs with 50% and 90% inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.17 to 0.21 μMand from 0.60 to 0.76 μM, respectively. These results suggest that NTZ and TIZ are effective against CIV and may be useful for treatment of canine influenza in dogs but further investigation of thein vivoefficacy against CIV as well as the drug's potential for toxicity in dogs is needed.

scholarly journals Influenza A Virus Inhibits RSV Infection via a Two-Wave Expression of IFIT Proteins

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1171
Author(s):  
Yaron Drori ◽  
Jasmine Jacob-Hirsch ◽  
Rakefet Pando ◽  
Aharona Glatman-Freedman ◽  
Nehemya Friedman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Rsv Infection ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Mouse Lungs

Influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are respiratory viruses that primarily circulate worldwide during the autumn and winter seasons. Seasonal surveillance has shown that RSV infection generally precedes influenza. However, in the last four winter seasons (2016–2020) an overlap of the morbidity peaks of both viruses was observed in Israel, and was paralleled by significantly lower RSV infection rates. To investigate whether the influenza A virus inhibits RSV, human cervical carcinoma (HEp2) cells or mice were co-infected with influenza A and RSV. Influenza A inhibited RSV growth, both in vitro and in vivo. Mass spectrometry analysis of mouse lungs infected with influenza A identified a two-wave pattern of protein expression upregulation, which included members of the interferon-induced protein with the tetratricopeptide (IFITs) family. Interestingly, in the second wave, influenza A viruses were no longer detectable in mouse lungs. In addition, knockdown and overexpression of IFITs in HEp2 cells affected RSV multiplicity. In conclusion, influenza A infection inhibits RSV infectivity via upregulation of IFIT proteins in a two-wave modality. Understanding the immune system involvement in the interaction between influenza A and RSV viruses will contribute to the development of future treatment strategies against these viruses.

scholarly journals Genetically and Antigenically Divergent Influenza A(H9N2) Viruses Exhibit Differential Replication and Transmission Phenotypes in Mammalian Models

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica A. Belser ◽  
Xiangjie Sun ◽  
Nicole Brock ◽  
Claudia Pappas ◽  
Joanna A. Pulit-Penaloza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Human Respiratory Tract ◽  
Live Bird Markets ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Live Bird

ABSTRACT Low-pathogenicity avian influenza A(H9N2) viruses, enzootic in poultry populations in Asia, are associated with fewer confirmed human infections but higher rates of seropositivity compared to A(H5) or A(H7) subtype viruses. Cocirculation of A(H5) and A(H7) viruses leads to the generation of reassortant viruses bearing A(H9N2) internal genes with markers of mammalian adaptation, warranting continued surveillance in both avian and human populations. Here, we describe active surveillance efforts in live poultry markets in Vietnam in 2018 and compare representative viruses to G1 and Y280 lineage viruses that have infected humans. Receptor binding properties, pH thresholds for HA activation, in vitro replication in human respiratory tract cells, and in vivo mammalian pathogenicity and transmissibility were investigated. While A(H9N2) viruses from both poultry and humans exhibited features associated with mammalian adaptation, one human isolate from 2018, A/Anhui-Lujiang/39/2018, exhibited increased capacity for replication and transmission, demonstrating the pandemic potential of A(H9N2) viruses. IMPORTANCE A(H9N2) influenza viruses are widespread in poultry in many parts of the world and for over 20 years have sporadically jumped species barriers to cause human infection. As these viruses continue to diversify genetically and antigenically, it is critical to closely monitor viruses responsible for human infections, to ascertain if A(H9N2) viruses are acquiring properties that make them better suited to infect and spread among humans. In this study, we describe an active poultry surveillance system established in Vietnam to identify the scope of influenza viruses present in live bird markets and the threat they pose to human health. Assessment of a recent A(H9N2) virus isolated from an individual in China in 2018 is also reported, and it was found to exhibit properties of adaptation to humans and, importantly, it shows similarities to strains isolated from the live bird markets of Vietnam.

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