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Funk M, Spronken MI, Bestebroer TM, de Bruin AC, Gultyaev AP, Fouchier RA, te Velthuis AJ, Richard M. Transient RNA structures underlie highly pathogenic avian influenza virus genesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.11.574333. [PMID: 38370829 PMCID: PMC10871305 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.11.574333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) cause severe disease and high fatality in poultry1. They emerge exclusively from H5 and H7 low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs)2. Although insertion of a furin-cleavable multibasic cleavage site (MBCS) in the hemagglutinin gene was identified decades ago as the genetic basis for LPAIV-to-HPAIV transition3,4, the exact mechanisms underlying said insertion have remained unknown. Here we used an innovative combination of bioinformatic models to predict RNA structures forming around the influenza virus RNA polymerase during replication, and circular sequencing5 to reliably detect nucleotide insertions. We show that transient H5 hemagglutinin RNA structures predicted to trap the polymerase on purine-rich sequences drive nucleotide insertions characteristic of MBCSs, providing the first strong empirical evidence of RNA structure involvement in MBCS acquisition. Insertion frequencies at the H5 cleavage site were strongly affected by substitutions in flanking genomic regions altering predicted transient RNA structures. Introduction of H5-like cleavage site sequences and structures into an H6 hemagglutinin resulted in MBCS-yielding insertions never observed before in H6 viruses. Our results demonstrate that nucleotide insertions that underlie H5 HPAIV emergence result from a previously unknown RNA-structure-driven diversity-generating mechanism, which could be shared with other RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathis Funk
- Department of Viroscience; Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Monique I. Spronken
- Department of Viroscience; Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Theo M. Bestebroer
- Department of Viroscience; Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anja C.M. de Bruin
- Department of Viroscience; Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander P. Gultyaev
- Department of Viroscience; Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Group Imaging and Bioinformatics, Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS); Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ron A.M. Fouchier
- Department of Viroscience; Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aartjan J.W. te Velthuis
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology; Princeton University, 08544 New Jersey, United States
| | - Mathilde Richard
- Department of Viroscience; Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Identification of Kukoamine A, Zeaxanthin, and Clexane as New Furin Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052796. [PMID: 35269938 PMCID: PMC8911046 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The endogenous protease furin is a key protein in many different diseases, such as cancer and infections. For this reason, a wide range of studies has focused on targeting furin from a therapeutic point of view. Our main objective consisted of identifying new compounds that could enlarge the furin inhibitor arsenal; secondarily, we assayed their adjuvant effect in combination with a known furin inhibitor, CMK, which avoids the SARS-CoV-2 S protein cleavage by means of that inhibition. Virtual screening was carried out to identify potential furin inhibitors. The inhibition of physiological and purified recombinant furin by screening selected compounds, Clexane, and these drugs in combination with CMK was assayed in fluorogenic tests by using a specific furin substrate. The effects of the selected inhibitors from virtual screening on cell viability (293T HEK cell line) were assayed by means of flow cytometry. Through virtual screening, Zeaxanthin and Kukoamine A were selected as the main potential furin inhibitors. In fluorogenic assays, these two compounds and Clexane inhibited both physiological and recombinant furin in a dose-dependent way. In addition, these compounds increased physiological furin inhibition by CMK, showing an adjuvant effect. In conclusion, we identified Kukoamine A, Zeaxanthin, and Clexane as new furin inhibitors. In addition, these drugs were able to increase furin inhibition by CMK, so they could also increase its efficiency when avoiding S protein proteolysis, which is essential for SARS-CoV-2 cell infection.
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Lee DH, Criado MF, Swayne DE. Pathobiological Origins and Evolutionary History of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2021; 11:a038679. [PMID: 31964650 PMCID: PMC7849344 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a038679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
High-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viruses have arisen from low-pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses via changes in the hemagglutinin proteolytic cleavage site, which include mutation of multiple nonbasic to basic amino acids, duplication of basic amino acids, or recombination with insertion of cellular or viral amino acids. Between 1959 and 2019, a total of 42 natural, independent H5 (n = 15) and H7 (n = 27) LPAI to HPAI virus conversion events have occurred in Europe (n = 16), North America (n = 9), Oceania (n = 7), Asia (n = 5), Africa (n = 4), and South America (n = 1). Thirty-eight of these HPAI outbreaks were limited in the number of poultry premises affected and were eradicated. However, poultry outbreaks caused by A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (H5Nx), Mexican H7N3, and Chinese H7N9 HPAI lineages have continued. Active surveillance and molecular detection and characterization efforts will provide the best opportunity for early detection and eradication from domestic birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Hun Lee
- Department of Pathobiology & Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA
| | - Miria Ferreira Criado
- Exotic and Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research Unit, Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia 30605, USA
| | - David E Swayne
- Exotic and Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research Unit, Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia 30605, USA
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Sauter D, Kirchhoff F. Evolutionary conflicts and adverse effects of antiviral factors. eLife 2021; 10:e65243. [PMID: 33450175 PMCID: PMC7811402 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cells are equipped with a plethora of antiviral proteins protecting them against invading viral pathogens. In contrast to apoptotic or pyroptotic cell death, which serves as ultima ratio to combat viral infections, these cell-intrinsic restriction factors may prevent or at least slow down viral spread while allowing the host cell to survive. Nevertheless, their antiviral activity may also have detrimental effects on the host. While the molecular mechanisms underlying the antiviral activity of restriction factors are frequently well investigated, potential undesired effects of their antiviral functions on the host cell are hardly explored. With a focus on antiretroviral proteins, we summarize in this review how individual restriction factors may exert adverse effects as trade-off for efficient defense against attacking pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sauter
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical CenterUlmGermany
- Institute of Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical CenterUlmGermany
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The Effects of Genetic Variation on H7N9 Avian Influenza Virus Pathogenicity. Viruses 2020; 12:v12111220. [PMID: 33126529 PMCID: PMC7693985 DOI: 10.3390/v12111220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the H7N9 avian influenza virus emerged in China in 2013, there have been five seasonal waves which have shown human infections and caused high fatality rates in infected patients. A multibasic amino acid insertion seen in the HA of current H7N9 viruses occurred through natural evolution and reassortment, and created a high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) virus from the low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) in 2017, and significantly increased pathogenicity in poultry, resulting in widespread HPAI H7N9 in poultry, which along with LPAI H7N9, contributed to the severe fifth seasonal wave in China. H7N9 is a novel reassorted virus from three different subtypes of influenza A viruses (IAVs) which displays a great potential threat to public health and the poultry industry. To date, no sustained human-to-human transmission has been recorded by the WHO. However, the high ability of evolutionary adaptation of H7N9 and lack of pre-existing immunity in humans heightens the pandemic potential. Changes in IAVs proteins can affect the viral transmissibility, receptor binding specificity, pathogenicity, and virulence. The multibasic amino acid insertion, mutations in hemagglutinin, deletion and mutations in neuraminidase, and mutations in PB2 contribute to different virological characteristics. This review summarized the latest research evidence to describe the impacts of viral protein changes in viral adaptation and pathogenicity of H7N9, aiming to provide better insights for developing and enhancing early warning or intervention strategies with the goal of preventing highly pathogenic IAVs circulation in live poultry, and transmission to humans.
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Humphreys JM, Ramey AM, Douglas DC, Mullinax JM, Soos C, Link P, Walther P, Prosser DJ. Waterfowl occurrence and residence time as indicators of H5 and H7 avian influenza in North American Poultry. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2592. [PMID: 32054908 PMCID: PMC7018751 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59077-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza (AI) affects wild aquatic birds and poses hazards to human health, food security, and wildlife conservation globally. Accordingly, there is a recognized need for new methods and tools to help quantify the dynamic interaction between wild bird hosts and commercial poultry. Using satellite-marked waterfowl, we applied Bayesian joint hierarchical modeling to concurrently model species distributions, residency times, migration timing, and disease occurrence probability under an integrated animal movement and disease distribution modeling framework. Our results indicate that migratory waterfowl are positively related to AI occurrence over North America such that as waterfowl occurrence probability or residence time increase at a given location, so too does the chance of a commercial poultry AI outbreak. Analyses also suggest that AI occurrence probability is greatest during our observed waterfowl northward migration, and less during the southward migration. Methodologically, we found that when modeling disparate facets of disease systems at the wildlife-agriculture interface, it is essential that multiscale spatial patterns be addressed to avoid mistakenly inferring a disease process or disease-environment relationship from a pattern evaluated at the improper spatial scale. The study offers important insights into migratory waterfowl ecology and AI disease dynamics that aid in better preparing for future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Humphreys
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA.
| | - Andrew M Ramey
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | - David C Douglas
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | | | - Catherine Soos
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Paul Link
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Patrick Walther
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Chenier Plain Refuge Complex, Anahuac, Texas, USA
| | - Diann J Prosser
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA
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Abstract
The earliest recorded cases of what was likely high-pathogenicity AIV in poultry were reported in Italy in the 1870s. Avian influenza infection has been recognized in domestic poultry through the modern era of poultry production. Infection of poultry with either low pathogenic (LP) or highly pathogenic (HP) avian influenza viruses (AIVs) can result in substantial economic consequences. Productivity can be reduced directly and indirectly because of disease leading to decreased egg or meat yield, mortality, vaccination costs, and restricted trade. Aquatic birds are the natural hosts for AIV, and infection tends to be subclinical, although some strains of HPAIV can cause losses in domestic ducks. Biosecurity and vaccination are the most common methods of preventing infection of poultry. Approaches to AIV control vary widely, but elimination of the disease in poultry is a common goal. The basics of AIV biology, clinical disease, molecular aspects, and AIV detection are briefly reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Spackman
- Exotic and Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Unit, US National Poultry Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Athens, GA, USA.
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8
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Braun E, Sauter D. Furin-mediated protein processing in infectious diseases and cancer. Clin Transl Immunology 2019; 8:e1073. [PMID: 31406574 PMCID: PMC6682551 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteolytic cleavage regulates numerous processes in health and disease. One key player is the ubiquitously expressed serine protease furin, which cleaves a plethora of proteins at polybasic recognition motifs. Mammalian substrates of furin include cytokines, hormones, growth factors and receptors. Thus, it is not surprising that aberrant furin activity is associated with a variety of disorders including cancer. Furthermore, the enzymatic activity of furin is exploited by numerous viral and bacterial pathogens, thereby enhancing their virulence and spread. In this review, we describe the physiological and pathophysiological substrates of furin and discuss how dysregulation of a simple proteolytic cleavage event may promote infectious diseases and cancer. One major focus is the role of furin in viral glycoprotein maturation and pathogenicity. We also outline cellular mechanisms regulating the expression and activation of furin and summarise current approaches that target this protease for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Braun
- Institute of Molecular VirologyUlm University Medical CenterUlmGermany
| | - Daniel Sauter
- Institute of Molecular VirologyUlm University Medical CenterUlmGermany
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Inactivated H5 Antigens of H5N8 Protect Chickens from Lethal Infections by the Highly Pathogenic H5N8 and H5N6 Avian Influenza Viruses. J Vet Res 2018; 62:413-420. [PMID: 30729196 PMCID: PMC6364154 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2018-0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Highly pathogenic Asian H5-subtype avian influenza viruses have been found in poultry and wild birds worldwide since they were first detected in southern China in 1996. Extensive control efforts have not eradicated them. Vaccination prevents such viruses infecting poultry and reduces the number lost to compulsory slaughter. The study showed the efficacy of inactivated H5 vaccine from the H5N8 virus against highly pathogenic H5N8 and H5N6 avian influenza viruses in chickens. Material and Methods Reverse genetics constructed an H5 vaccine virus using the HA gene of the 2014 H5N8 avian influenza virus and the rest of the genes from A/PR/8/34 (H1N1). The vaccine viruses were grown in fertilised eggs, partially purified through a sucrose gradient, and inactivated with formalin. Chickens were immunised i.m. with 1 μg of oil-adjuvanted inactivated H5 antigens. Results Single dose H5 vaccine recipients were completely protected from lethal infections by homologous H5N8 avian influenza virus and shed no virus from the respiratory or intestinal tracts but were not protected from lethal infections by heterologous H5N6. When chickens were immunised with two doses and challenged with homologous H5N8 or heterologous H5N6, all survived and shed no virus. Conclusion Our results indicate that two-dose immunisations of chickens with H5 antigens with oil adjuvant are needed to provide broad protection against different highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza viruses.
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Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Garten W, Klenk HD. Characterization of Proprotein Convertases and Their Involvement in Virus Propagation. ACTIVATION OF VIRUSES BY HOST PROTEASES 2018. [PMCID: PMC7122180 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-75474-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolfgang Garten
- Institut für Virologie, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany
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11
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Jennelle CS, Carstensen M, Hildebrand EC, Cornicelli L, Wolf P, Grear DA, Ip HS, Vandalen KK, Minicucci LA. Surveillance for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds during Outbreaks in Domestic Poultry, Minnesota, 2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 22:1278-82. [PMID: 27064759 PMCID: PMC4918185 DOI: 10.3201/eid2207.152032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2015, a major outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infection devastated poultry facilities in Minnesota, USA. To understand the potential role of wild birds, we tested 3,139 waterfowl fecal samples and 104 sick and dead birds during March 9-June 4, 2015. HPAIV was isolated from a Cooper's hawk but not from waterfowl fecal samples.
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12
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Das A, Suarez DL. Development and Bench Validation of Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Protocols for Rapid Detection of the Subtypes H6, H9, and H11 of Avian Influenza Viruses in Experimental Samples. J Vet Diagn Invest 2016; 19:625-34. [DOI: 10.1177/104063870701900603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) is commonly used for the rapid detection, as well as to determine the subtype, of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). There are 16 known serologically distinct hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes of AIV described. Currently, determination of the subtypes of AIVs by RRT-PCR tests has been limited to the H5 and H7 subtypes. In this study, RRT-PCR assays were developed in simplex formats for rapid detection of AIV subtypes H6, H9, and H11. The primers and probes for RRT-PCR were designed from nucleotide sequences of the HA genes, which were either downloaded from GenBank (for H6 and H9) or sequenced for this study. The specificity and sensitivity of the RRT-PCR assays were determined based on the detection of the virus from a proficiency panel consisting of 15 different HA subtypes of AIVs and from serial dilutions of target viral RNA. The subtype-specific RRT-PCR assays were used to detect the virus in cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs of experimental chickens inoculated with H6, H9, and H11 AIVs, and the test results were compared with validated RRT-PCR assays based on the amplification of AI matrix (MA) gene. A high correlation of the matrix test and the specific H6, H9, and H11 by the RRT-PCR assays was observed; kappa coefficients for the agreement of test results in cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs combined were 0.927, 0.962, and 0.981, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaresh Das
- From the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Athens, GA
| | - David L. Suarez
- From the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Athens, GA
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Iqbal M, Reddy KB, Brookes SM, Essen SC, Brown IH, McCauley JW. Virus pathotype and deep sequencing of the HA gene of a low pathogenicity H7N1 avian influenza virus causing mortality in Turkeys. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87076. [PMID: 24489838 PMCID: PMC3904975 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses of the H7 subtype generally cause mild disease in poultry. However the evolution of a LPAI virus into highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus results in the generation of a virus that can cause severe disease and death. The classification of these two pathotypes is based, in part, on disease signs and death in chickens, as assessed in an intravenous pathogenicity test, but the effect of LPAI viruses in turkeys is less well understood. During an investigation of LPAI virus infection of turkeys, groups of three-week-old birds inoculated with A/chicken/Italy/1279/99 (H7N1) showed severe disease signs and died or were euthanised within seven days of infection. Virus was detected in many internal tissues and organs from culled birds. To examine the possible evolution of the infecting virus to a highly pathogenic form in these turkeys, sequence analysis of the haemagglutinin (HA) gene cleavage site was carried out by analysing multiple cDNA amplicons made from swabs and tissue sample extracts employing Sanger and Next Generation Sequencing. In addition, a RT-PCR assay to detect HPAI virus was developed. There was no evidence of the presence of HPAI virus in either the virus used as inoculum or from swabs taken from infected birds. However, a small proportion (<0.5%) of virus carried in individual tracheal or liver samples did contain a molecular signature typical of a HPAI virus at the HA cleavage site. All the signature sequences were identical and were similar to HPAI viruses collected during the Italian epizootic in 1999/2000. We assume that the detection of HPAI virus in tissue samples following infection with A/chicken/Italy/1279/99 reflected amplification of a virus present at very low levels within the mixed inoculum but, strikingly, we observed no new HPAI virus signatures in the amplified DNA analysed by deep-sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munir Iqbal
- Avian Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Compton Laboratory, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Kolli B. Reddy
- Avian Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Compton Laboratory, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon M. Brookes
- Avian Virology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency-Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Steve C. Essen
- Avian Virology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency-Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Ian H. Brown
- Avian Virology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency-Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - John W. McCauley
- Division of Virology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
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14
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Abstract
Avian influenza virus (AIV) causes a disease of high economic importance for poultry production worldwide. The earliest recorded cases of probable high-pathogenicity AIV in poultry were reported in Italy in the 1870s, and avian influenza has been recognized in domestic poultry through the modern era of poultry production. Approaches to control vary widely, but elimination of the disease in poultry is a common goal. The basics of AIV biology, clinical disease, molecular aspects, and AIV detection are briefly reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Spackman
- Exotic and Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Unit, Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture, ARS, 934 College Station Rd., Athens, GA, 30605, USA,
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15
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Abdelwhab ESM, Veits J, Mettenleiter TC. Genetic changes that accompanied shifts of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses toward higher pathogenicity in poultry. Virulence 2013; 4:441-52. [PMID: 23863606 PMCID: PMC5359749 DOI: 10.4161/viru.25710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Revised: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza viruses (AIV) of H5 and H7 subtypes exhibit two different pathotypes in poultry: infection with low pathogenic (LP) strains results in minimal, if any, health disturbances, whereas highly pathogenic (HP) strains cause severe morbidity and mortality. LPAIV of H5 and H7 subtypes can spontaneously mutate into HPAIV. Ten outbreaks caused by HPAIV are known to have been preceded by circulation of a predecessor LPAIV in poultry. Three of them were caused by H5N2 subtype and seven involved H7 subtype in combination with N1, N3, or N7. Here, we review those outbreaks and summarize the genetic changes which resulted in the transformation of LPAIV to HPAIV under natural conditions. Mutations that were found directly in those outbreaks are more likely to be linked to virulence, pathogenesis, and early adaptation of AIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- El-Sayed M Abdelwhab
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut; Federal Research Institute for Animal Health; Institute of Molecular Biology; Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jutta Veits
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut; Federal Research Institute for Animal Health; Institute of Molecular Biology; Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Thomas C Mettenleiter
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut; Federal Research Institute for Animal Health; Institute of Molecular Biology; Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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16
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Verity EE, Camuglia S, Agius CT, Ong C, Shaw R, Barr I, Middleton D, Rockman S. Rapid generation of pandemic influenza virus vaccine candidate strains using synthetic DNA. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2011; 6:101-9. [PMID: 21771285 PMCID: PMC4942080 DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00273.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Please cite this paper as: Verity et al. (2011) Rapid generation of pandemic influenza virus vaccine candidate strains using synthetic DNA. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI:10.1111/j.1750‐2659.2011.00273.x. Background Vaccination is considered the most effective means of reducing influenza burden. The emergence of H5N1 and pandemic spread of novel H1N1/2009 viruses reinforces the need to have strategies in place to rapidly develop seed viruses for vaccine manufacture. Methods Candidate pandemic vaccine strains consisting of the circulating strain haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) in an A/PR/8/34 backbone were generated using alternative synthetic DNA approaches, including site‐directed mutagenesis of DNA encoding related virus strains, and rapid generation of virus using synthetic DNA cloned into plasmid vectors. Results Firstly, synthetic A/Bar Headed Goose/Qinghai/1A/2005 (H5N1) virus was generated from an A/Vietnam/1194/2004 template using site‐directed mutagenesis. Secondly, A/Whooper Swan/Mongolia/244/2005 (H5N1) and A/California/04/09 (H1N1) viruses were generated using synthetic DNA encoding the viral HA and NA genes. Replication and antigenicity of the synthetic viruses were comparable to that of the corresponding non‐synthetic viruses. Conclusions In the event of an influenza pandemic, the use of these approaches may significantly reduce the time required to generate and distribute the vaccine seed virus and vaccine manufacture. These approaches also offer the advantage of not needing to handle wild‐type virus, potentially diminishing biocontainment requirements.
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17
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Pathogenicity of two Egyptian H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in domestic ducks. Arch Virol 2010; 156:37-51. [DOI: 10.1007/s00705-010-0813-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Hovmöller R, Alexandrov B, Hardman J, Janies D. Tracking the geographical spread of avian influenza (H5N1) with multiple phylogenetic trees. Cladistics 2010; 26:1-13. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2009.00297.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop novel approaches for vaccination against emerging pathogenic avian influenza viruses as a priority for pandemic preparedness. Influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) have been suggested and developed as a new generation of non-egg-based cell culture-derived vaccine candidates against influenza infection. Influenza VLPs are formed by a self-assembly process incorporating structural proteins into budding particles composed of the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA) and M1 proteins, and may include additional influenza proteins such as M2. Animals vaccinated with VLPs were protected from morbidity and mortality resulting from lethal influenza infections. The protective mechanism of influenza VLP vaccines was similar to that of the currently licensed influenza vaccines inducing neutralizing antibodies and hemagglutination inhibition activities. Current studies demonstrate that influenza VLP approaches can be a promising alternative approach to developing a vaccine for pandemic influenza viruses. The first human clinical trial of a recombinant pandemic-like H5N1 influenza VLP vaccine was initiated in July 2007 (Bright et al., unpublished).
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Soda K, Ozaki H, Sakoda Y, Isoda N, Haraguchi Y, Sakabe S, Kuboki N, Kishida N, Takada A, Kida H. Antigenic and genetic analysis of H5 influenza viruses isolated from water birds for the purpose of vaccine use. Arch Virol 2008; 153:2041-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00705-008-0226-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2008] [Accepted: 09/19/2008] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Avian influenza viruses detected by surveillance of waterfowl in Ireland during 2003–2007. Epidemiol Infect 2008; 137:464-72. [DOI: 10.1017/s0950268808001325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYSpecimens for the detection of avian influenza virus (AIV) were collected from 1937 waterfowl on the Wexford Sloblands, a major wetland reserve in southeast Ireland, between January 2003 and September 2007. During the same period, 1404 waterfowl were sampled at other locations in Ireland. Specimens were tested either by virus isolation or real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rtRT–PCR). A total of 32 isolates of AIV, comprising nine subtypes, was obtained from specimens from the Sloblands compared with just one isolate from elsewhere in Ireland. Samples from nine other waterfowl, five of which were from the Sloblands, tested positive for AIV by rtRT–PCR. Ecological factors are likely to have contributed to the higher detection rate of AIV at the Sloblands compared with the rest of Ireland. It was concluded that targeted surveillance at such sites is a cost-effective means of monitoring the circulation of new AIVs in waterfowl, whereas widespread opportunistic sampling is unproductive and wasteful of resources.
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Abstract
The avian influenza (AI) virus is type A influenza isolated from and adapted to an avian host. Type A influenza belongs to the orthomyxovirdae virus family, is enveloped, and is pleiomorphic with a size ranging from 80-120 nm (reviewed in [1]). Type A influenza strains are classified by the serological subtypes of the primary viral surface proteins, the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). The HA has 16 subtypes (H1-H16) and contains neutralizing epitopes. Antibodies against the NA are not neutralizing, and there are nine neuraminidase or "N" subtypes. The "H" and N subtypes seem to be able to assort into any combination, and many of the 144 possible combinations have been found in natural reservoir species, although some combinations are more common than others. All 16 subtypes have been found in ducks, gulls, or shorebirds, the natural reservoir host species of the virus. However, in these species certain subtypes are more common than others; for example, H3, H4, and H6 are most common in ducks in North America [2, 3] and although there is no clear association between host range or host restriction based on HA subtype, some subtypes are more common in some species than others, i.e., H1 and H3 in swine, H3 in horses, and H5 and H7 in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Spackman
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Athens, GA, USA
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23
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Kobayashi Y, Horimoto T, Kawaoka Y, Alexander DJ, Itakura C. Pathological studies of chickens experimentally infected with two highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Avian Pathol 2007; 25:285-304. [DOI: 10.1080/03079459608419142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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24
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Sorrell EM, Ramirez-Nieto GC, Gomez-Osorio IG, Perez DR. Genesis of pandemic influenza. Cytogenet Genome Res 2007; 117:394-402. [PMID: 17675883 DOI: 10.1159/000103203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2006] [Accepted: 09/20/2006] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last decade the number of reported outbreaks caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic poultry has drastically increased. At the same time, low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) strains, such as H9N2 in many parts of the Middle East and Asia and H6N2 in live bird markets in California, have become endemic. Each AI outbreak brings the concomitant possibility of poultry-to-human transmission. Indeed, human illness and death have resulted from such occasional transmissions with highly pathogenic avian H7N7 and H5N1 viruses while avian H9N2 viruses have been isolated from individuals with mild influenza. The transmission of avian influenza directly from poultry to humans has brought a sense of urgency in terms of understanding the mechanisms that lead to interspecies transmission of influenza. Domestic poultry species have been previously overlooked as potential intermediate hosts in the generation of influenza viruses with the capacity to infect humans. In this review, we will discuss molecular and epidemiological aspects that have led to the recurrent emergence of avian influenza strains with pandemic potential, with a particular emphasis on the current Asian H5N1 viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Sorrell
- University of Maryland, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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25
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Webster RG, Hulse-Post DJ, Sturm-Ramirez KM, Guan Y, Peiris M, Smith G, Chen H. Changing epidemiology and ecology of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses. Avian Dis 2007; 51:269-72. [PMID: 17494564 DOI: 10.1637/7641-050206r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The H5N1 virus currently circulating is continuing to evolve, and it has already resulted in the extension of its host and geographical range. It is likely that H5N1 will become a global problem for the poultry industry. How many of the recent H5N1 changes observed have been induced by changing patterns in poultry raising? A change in attitude on the use of high-quality vaccines is a change that would drastically help in the control of the current epidemic in the poultry industry. This article provides an overview of the changing properties that have been observed during the current H5N1 outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- R G Webster
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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26
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Steensels M, Van Borm S, Boschmans M, van den Berg T. Lethality and Molecular Characterization of an HPAI H5N1 Virus Isolated from Eagles Smuggled from Thailand into Europe. Avian Dis 2007; 51:401-7. [PMID: 17494594 DOI: 10.1637/7554-033106r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
On October 18, 2004, two crested hawk eagles, Spizaetus nipalensis, smuggled into Europe from Thailand were seized at Brussels International Airport. A highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, denominated A/crested eagle/Belgium/01/2004, was isolated from these birds and antigenically characterized as H5N1. Here we report on the molecular characterization of A/crested eagle/Belgium/01/2004 (H5N1). We completely sequenced all eight genome segments. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) sequences clustered within the Z genotype and were closely related to strains circulating in Thailand during 2004, although some mutations in the HA were evident, notably a unique arginine (R) > lysine (K) replacement in the cleaving site. The HA cleavage site contained six basic amino acids, confirming its high pathogenicity (intravenous pathogenicity index = 2.94). The 20-amino acid deletion in the NA stalk region is consistent with its Thai-Viet origin. We further discuss the assembled genetic information in the light of currently known host adaptation, virulence, and antiviral resistance factors. Using infection experiments, we show that pathogenicity in chickens depends on breed, inoculation route (oculonasal vs. intramuscular), and dose. Additionally, in Muscovy ducks, pathogenicity proved to be age dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Steensels
- Avian Virology & Immunology Unit, Veterinary & Agrochemical Research Centre (VAR), 99 Groeselenberg, B1180 Brussels, Belgium
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27
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Ma HC, Chen JM, Chen JW, Sun YX, Li JM, Wang ZL. The panorama of the diversity of H5 subtype influenza viruses. Virus Genes 2006; 34:283-7. [PMID: 16924425 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-006-0018-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2006] [Accepted: 05/10/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
To elucidate the global diversity of H5 influenza viruses from a dynamic view, haemagglutinin (HA) sequences of 170 isolates were selected and analyzed in this study. Our results showed that H5 influenza isolates could be divided into two distinct lineages that circulated in the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere, respectively. This may be due to the separate migration routes and habitats of birds in the two hemispheres. The two distinct lineages, having existed at least for decades, possibly began divergence in 1850s. Each of the two distinct HA lineages could be further divided into some sublineages, but there was little correlation between the minor lineages and their isolation places, isolation time, neuraminidase subtypes, host species or virulence. The panorama of the diversity of H5 influenza viruses presented here integrated all known H5 epidemics including the current severe H5N1 avian epidemics in the Eastern Hemisphere and suggested that H5 virulent viruses could originate from multiple sublineages and associate with multiple NA subtypes. Our study provided a framework for the studies on the evolution and epidemiology of H5 influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Chao Ma
- Chinese Center for Animal Health and Epidemiology, Nanjing Road 369#, Qingdao 266032, China
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28
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Hui EKW, Smee DF, Wong MH, Nayak DP. Mutations in influenza virus M1 CCHH, the putative zinc finger motif, cause attenuation in mice and protect mice against lethal influenza virus infection. J Virol 2006; 80:5697-707. [PMID: 16731908 PMCID: PMC1472591 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02729-05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in CCHH, the putative zinc finger motif, apparently do not play an important role in virus replication in MDCK cells in culture (E. K.-W. Hui, K. Ralston, A. K. Judd, and D. P. Nayak, J. Gen. Virol. 84:3105-3113, 2003). In this report, however, we demonstrate that the CCHH motif plays a critical role in virulence in mice and that some CCHH mutants are highly attenuated in BALB/c mice. Some of the mutant viruses replicated the least in mice lungs, induced little or no lung lesions, and caused highly reduced morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, growth patterns of mutant viruses in different cell lines (MDCK, MLE12, 3LL, A549, and 293T) varied. Mutant viruses that were attenuated in mice also grew poorly in mouse and human cells in culture. However, wild-type (WT) and all mutant viruses replicated to the same titer in MDCK (canine) cells or embryonated chicken eggs. Attenuation in mice correlated with reduced growth in mouse cells in culture, suggesting that potential attenuation in a given host can be predicted from the growth characteristics of the virus in cultured cells (preferably lung cells) from the same species. In challenge experiments, mice immunized by infection with attenuated mutant viruses were fully protected from lethal challenge with WT virus. In summary, the replication and attenuating properties of these mutants suggest that the CCHH motif provides a critical determinant for virulence in mouse and that mutations in the CCHH motif yield potential vaccine candidates for the development of live species-specific attenuated influenza virus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Ka-Wai Hui
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1747, USA
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29
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Hatta M, Kawaoka Y. [Clue to the molecular mechanism of virulence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses isolated in 2004]. Uirusu 2006; 55:55-61. [PMID: 16308530 DOI: 10.2222/jsv.55.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza A viruses have spread throughout Asia since 2003. These viruses are highly lethal to birds and humans. Of the 74 confirmed human cases, 49 were fatal (as of Mar 30, 2005), raising concerns of a possible pandemic by these viruses. Despite the well-established pathogenicity of these viruses, the molecular mechanism for expressing such high virulence remains elusive. Thus, we examined the pathogenicity of the H5N1 viruses isolated in Vietnam in 2003-2004 using animal models (mouse, duck, and ferret). Viruses from humans were generally more pathogenic in mice and ferrets than those from birds. Indeed, one human isolate was even lethal to ferrets. The human isolate possessing Lys at amino acid position 627 of PB2 was more virulent than that possessing Glu at this position, underscoring the importance of Lys at this position 627 of PB2 for efficient growth in mammals.
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30
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Govorkova EA, Rehg JE, Krauss S, Yen HL, Guan Y, Peiris M, Nguyen TD, Hanh TH, Puthavathana P, Long HT, Buranathai C, Lim W, Webster RG, Hoffmann E. Lethality to ferrets of H5N1 influenza viruses isolated from humans and poultry in 2004. J Virol 2005; 79:2191-8. [PMID: 15681421 PMCID: PMC546577 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.79.4.2191-2198.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2004 outbreaks of H5N1 influenza viruses in Vietnam and Thailand were highly lethal to humans and to poultry; therefore, newly emerging avian influenza A viruses pose a continued threat, not only to avian species but also to humans. We studied the pathogenicity of four human and nine avian H5N1/04 influenza viruses in ferrets (an excellent model for influenza studies). All four human isolates were fatal to intranasally inoculated ferrets. The human isolate A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) was the most pathogenic isolate; the severity of disease was associated with a broad tissue tropism and high virus titers in multiple organs, including the brain. High fever, weight loss, anorexia, extreme lethargy, and diarrhea were observed. Two avian H5N1/04 isolates were as pathogenic as the human viruses, causing lethal systemic infections in ferrets. Seven of nine H5N1/04 viruses isolated from avian species caused mild infections, with virus replication restricted to the upper respiratory tract. All chicken isolates were nonlethal to ferrets. A sequence analysis revealed polybasic amino acids in the hemagglutinin connecting peptides of all H5N1/04 viruses, indicating that multiple molecular differences in other genes are important for a high level of virulence. Interestingly, the human A/Vietnam/1203/04 isolate had a lysine substitution at position 627 of PB2 and had one to eight amino acid changes in all gene products except that of the M1 gene, unlike the A/chicken/Vietnam/C58/04 and A/quail/Vietnam/36/04 viruses. Our results indicate that viruses that are lethal to mammals are circulating among birds in Asia and suggest that pathogenicity in ferrets, and perhaps humans, reflects a complex combination of different residues rather than a single amino acid difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena A Govorkova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA
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31
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Sturm-Ramirez KM, Ellis T, Bousfield B, Bissett L, Dyrting K, Rehg JE, Poon L, Guan Y, Peiris M, Webster RG. Reemerging H5N1 influenza viruses in Hong Kong in 2002 are highly pathogenic to ducks. J Virol 2004; 78:4892-901. [PMID: 15078970 PMCID: PMC387679 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.78.9.4892-4901.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 275] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Waterfowl are the natural reservoir of all influenza A viruses, which are usually nonpathogenic in wild aquatic birds. However, in late 2002, outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus caused deaths among wild migratory birds and resident waterfowl, including ducks, in two Hong Kong parks. In February 2003, an avian H5N1 virus closely related to one of these viruses was isolated from two humans with acute respiratory distress, one of whom died. Antigenic analysis of the new avian isolates showed a reactivity pattern different from that of H5N1 viruses isolated in 1997 and 2001. This finding suggests that significant antigenic variation has recently occurred among H5N1 viruses. We inoculated mallards with antigenically different H5N1 influenza viruses isolated between 1997 and 2003. The new 2002 avian isolates caused systemic infection in the ducks, with high virus titers and pathology in multiple organs, particularly the brain. Ducks developed acute disease, including severe neurological dysfunction and death. Virus was also isolated at high titers from the birds' drinking water and from contact birds, demonstrating efficient transmission. In contrast, H5N1 isolates from 1997 and 2001 were not consistently transmitted efficiently among ducks and did not cause significant disease. Despite a high level of genomic homology, the human isolate showed striking biological differences from its avian homologue in a duck model. This is the first reported case of lethal influenza virus infection in wild aquatic birds since 1961.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine M Sturm-Ramirez
- Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-2794, USA
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32
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Webby RJ, Perez DR, Coleman JS, Guan Y, Knight JH, Govorkova EA, McClain-Moss LR, Peiris JS, Rehg JE, Tuomanen EI, Webster RG. Responsiveness to a pandemic alert: use of reverse genetics for rapid development of influenza vaccines. Lancet 2004; 363:1099-103. [PMID: 15064027 PMCID: PMC7112480 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(04)15892-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In response to the emergence of severe infection capable of rapid global spread, WHO will issue a pandemic alert. Such alerts are rare; however, on Feb 19, 2003, a pandemic alert was issued in response to human infections caused by an avian H5N1 influenza virus, A/Hong Kong/213/03. H5N1 had been noted once before in human beings in 1997 and killed a third (6/18) of infected people. The 2003 variant seemed to have been transmitted directly from birds to human beings and caused fatal pneumonia in one of two infected individuals. Candidate vaccines were sought, but no avirulent viruses antigenically similar to the pathogen were available, and the isolate killed embryonated chicken eggs. Since traditional strategies of vaccine production were not viable, we sought to produce a candidate reference virus using reverse genetics. METHODS We removed the polybasic aminoacids that are associated with high virulence from the haemagglutinin cleavage site of A/Hong Kong/213/03 using influenza reverse genetics techniques. A reference vaccine virus was then produced on an A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) backbone on WHO-approved Vero cells. We assessed this reference virus for pathogenicity in in-vivo and in-vitro assays. FINDINGS A reference vaccine virus was produced in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-grade facilities in less than 4 weeks from the time of virus isolation. This virus proved to be non-pathogenic in chickens and ferrets and was shown to be stable after multiple passages in embryonated chicken eggs. INTERPRETATION The ability to produce a candidate reference virus in such a short period of time sets a new standard for rapid response to emerging infectious disease threats and clearly shows the usefulness of reverse genetics for influenza vaccine development. The same technologies and procedures are currently being used to create reference vaccine viruses against the 2004 H5N1 viruses circulating in Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Webby
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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Abstract
The current definitions of high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), formulated over 10 years ago, were aimed at including viruses that were overtly virulent in in vivo tests and those that had the potential to become virulent. At that time the only virus known to have mutated to virulence was the one responsible for the 1983-84 Pennsylvania epizootic. The mechanism involved has not been seen in other viruses, but the definition set a precedent for statutory control of potentially pathogenic as well as overtly virulent viruses. The accumulating evidence is that HPAI viruses arise from low-pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) H5 or H7 viruses infecting chickens and turkeys after spread from free-living birds. At present it can only be assumed that all H5 and H7 viruses have this potential and mutation to virulence is a random event. Therefore, the longer the presence and greater the spread in poultry the more likely it is that HPAI virus will emerge. The outbreaks in Pennsylvania, Mexico, and Italy are demonstrations of the consequences of failing to control the spread of LPAI viruses of H5 and H7 subtypes. It therefore seems desirable to control LPAI viruses of H5 and H7 subtype in poultry to limit the probability of a mutation to HPAI occurring. This in turn may require redefining statutory AI. There appear to be three options: 1) retain the current definition with a recommendation that countries impose restrictions to limit the spread of LPAI of H5 and H7 subtypes; 2) define statutory AI as an infection of birds/poultry with any AI virus of H5 or H7 subtype; 3) define statutory AI as any infection with AI virus of H5 or H7 subtype, but modify the control measures imposed for different categories of virus and/or different types of host.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Alexander
- European Union Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Virology Department, VLA-Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
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Schultz-Cherry S, Koci M, Thompson E, Tumpey TM. Examining the Cellular Pathways Involved in Influenza Virus Induced Apoptosis. Avian Dis 2003; 47:968-71. [PMID: 14575095 DOI: 10.1637/0005-2086-47.s3.968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis is essential in many physiological processes including wound healing and development of the immune response. Apoptosis also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many infectious diseases including those caused by viruses. Influenza viruses induce apoptosis in cells that are permissive for viral replication and cells that do not support viral replication. The cellular pathways involved in influenza virus induced apoptosis are currently ill defined. Previous studies suggest that influenza virus infection increased the expression of the Fas antigen in HeLa cells, and that Fas antigen is partially involved in apoptosis. In these studies we examined the cellular pathways involved in avian influenza virus induced apoptosis in two cell lines that support productive viral replication: Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK) and mink lung epithelial (Mv1Lu) cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Schultz-Cherry
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Athens, GA 30605, USA
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Shengqing Y, Shinya K, Otsuki K, Ito H, Ito T. Isolation of myxoviruses from migratory waterfowls in San-in district, western Japan in winters of 1997-2000. J Vet Med Sci 2002; 64:1049-52. [PMID: 12499693 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.64.1049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Between November 1997 and February 2000, winter migratory waterfowls of several species staying in San-in district, western Japan were surveyed for influenza A virus and paramyxovirus at four stations. A total of 18 influenza A viruses was isolated from 1,404 fecal samples of whistling swans, pintails, mallards, and white-fronted geese. Five different hemagglutinins and eight neuraminidases were identified in the viruses isolated, in 11 different combinations, including H7N8 related to a subtype of a highly pathogenic chicken virus. In 2000, five lentogenic (non-pathogenic) Newcastle disease viruses were also isolated from white-fronted geese. These results suggested that possible precursor viruses for highly pathogenic avian myxoviruses are still brought into Japan by migratory waterfowls. The results also support the contention that continued surveillance of wild waterfowl population should be an integral part of control policies for these serious poultry diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shengqing
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Japan
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36
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Abstract
The rapid evolution of influenza A and B viruses contributes to annual influenza epidemics in humans. In addition, pandemics of influenza are also caused by influenza A viruses, whereas influenza B does not have the potential to cause pandemics because there is no animal reservoir of the virus. Study of the genetic differences between influenza A and influenza B viruses, which are restricted to humans, may be informative in understanding the factors that govern mammalian adaptation of influenza A viruses. Aquatic birds provide the natural reservoir for influenza A viruses, but in general, avian influenza is asymptomatic in feral birds. Occasionally, however, highly pathogenic strains of influenza cause serious systemic infections in domestic poultry. The pathogenicity of these strains is related to the presence of a polybasic cleavage sequence in the precursor of the surface glycoprotein haemagglutinin, which makes the glycoprotein susceptible to activation by ubiquitous proteases such as furin and PC6. However, the mechanism of pathogenicity may differ in highly pathogenic strains of human influenza, such as the H1N1 pandemic strain of 1918 and the H5N1 strain involved in the outbreak in Hong Kong in 1997. Binding of host proteases by the viral neuraminidase to assist activation of the haemagglutinin, shortening of the neuraminidase and substitutions in the polymerase gene, PB2, have all been suggested as alternative molecular correlates of pathogenicity of human influenza viruses. Additionally, systemic spread in humans of pathogenic subtypes has not been demonstrated and host factors such as interferons may be crucial in preventing the spread of the virus outside the respiratory tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Zambon
- Enteric and Respiratory Virus Laboratory, PHLS Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, London NW9 5HT, UK.
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37
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Donatelli I, Campitelli L, Di Trani L, Puzelli S, Selli L, Fioretti A, Alexander DJ, Tollis M, Krauss S, Webster RG. Characterization of H5N2 influenza viruses from Italian poultry. J Gen Virol 2001; 82:623-630. [PMID: 11172104 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-82-3-623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
From October 1997 to January 1998, highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza viruses caused eight outbreaks of avian influenza in northern Italy. A nonpathogenic H5N9 influenza virus was also isolated during the outbreaks as a result of virological and epidemiological surveillance to control the spread of avian influenza to neighbouring regions. Antigenic analysis showed that the Italian H5N2 isolates were antigenically similar to, although distinguishable from, A/HK/156/97, a human influenza H5N1 virus isolated in Hong Kong in 1997. Phylogenetic analysis of the haemagglutinin (HA) genes showed that the highly pathogenic Italian viruses clustered with the Hong Kong strains, whereas the nonpathogenic H5N9 virus, despite its epidemiological association with the highly pathogenic Italian isolates, was most closely related to the highly pathogenic A/Turkey/England/91 (H5N1) strain. Like the HA phylogenetic tree, the nonstructural (NS) phylogenetic tree showed that the H5N2 Italian virus genes are clearly separate from those of the H5N9 strain. In contrast, results of the phylogenetic analysis of nucleoprotein (NP) genes indicated a closer genetic relationship between the two Italian virus groups, a finding suggesting a common progenitor. Comparison of the HA, NS and NP genes of the Italian H5 strains with those of the H5N1 viruses simultaneously circulating in Hong Kong revealed that the two groups of viruses do not share a recent common ancestor. No virological and serological evidence of bird-to-human transmission of the Italian H5N2 influenza viruses was found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Donatelli
- Department of Virology1 and Department of Veterinary Medicine2, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Campitelli
- Department of Virology1 and Department of Veterinary Medicine2, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Di Trani
- Department of Virology1 and Department of Veterinary Medicine2, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Puzelli
- Department of Virology1 and Department of Veterinary Medicine2, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Selli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Padua, Italy3
- Department of Virology1 and Department of Veterinary Medicine2, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Fioretti
- National Centre for Avian Influenza Viruses, Avian Pathology Section, University of Naples, Naples, Italy4
| | - Dennis J Alexander
- European Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza Viruses, Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Addlestone, UK5
| | - Maria Tollis
- Department of Virology1 and Department of Veterinary Medicine2, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Scott Krauss
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, PO Box 318, Memphis, TN 38105, USA6
| | - Robert G Webster
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, PO Box 318, Memphis, TN 38105, USA6
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Abstract
Influenza pandemics, defined as global outbreaks of the disease due to viruses with new antigenic subtypes, have exacted high death tolls from human populations. The last two pandemics were caused by hybrid viruses, or reassortants, that harbored a combination of avian and human viral genes. Avian influenza viruses are therefore key contributors to the emergence of human influenza pandemics. In 1997, an H5N1 influenza virus was directly transmitted from birds in live poultry markets in Hong Kong to humans. Eighteen people were infected in this outbreak, six of whom died. This avian virus exhibited high virulence in both avian and mammalian species, causing systemic infection in both chickens and mice. Subsequently, another avian virus with the H9N2 subtype was directly transmitted from birds to humans in Hong Kong. Interestingly, the genes encoding the internal proteins of the H9N2 virus are genetically highly related to those of the H5N1 virus, suggesting a unique property of these gene products. The identification of avian viruses in humans underscores the potential of these and similar strains to produce devastating influenza outbreaks in major population centers. Although highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses had been identified before the 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong, their devastating effects had been confined to poultry. With the Hong Kong outbreak, it became clear that the virulence potential of these viruses extended to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Horimoto
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai Osaka 599-8531, Japan
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Hiromoto Y, Yamazaki Y, Fukushima T, Saito T, Lindstrom SE, Omoe K, Nerome R, Lim W, Sugita S, Nerome K. Evolutionary characterization of the six internal genes of H5N1 human influenza A virus. J Gen Virol 2000; 81:1293-303. [PMID: 10769072 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-81-5-1293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The entire nucleotide sequences of all six internal genes of six human H5N1 influenza A viruses isolated in Hong Kong in 1997 were analysed in detail from a phylogenetic point of view and compared with the evolutionary patterns of the haemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes. Despite being isolated within a single year in the same geographical location, human H5N1 viruses were characterized by a variety of amino acid substitutions in the ribonucleoprotein complex [PB2, PB1, PA and nucleoprotein (NP)] as well as the matrix (M) proteins 1 and 2 and nonstructural (NS) proteins 1 and 2. The presence of previously reported amino acid sequences specific for human strains was confirmed in the PB2, PA, NP and M2 proteins. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities of the six internal genes of H5N1 viruses examined here were separated into at least two variant groups. In agreement with the above result, phylogenetic trees of the six internal genes of human H5N1 viruses were generally composed of two minor clades. Additionally, variable dendrogram topologies suggested that reassortment among viruses contributed further to the genetic variability of these viruses. As a result, it became clear that human H5N1 viruses are characterized by divergent gene constellations, suggesting the possible occurrence of genetic reassortment between viruses of the two evolutionary lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Hiromoto
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 23-1, Toyama 1-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
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40
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Baigent SJ, Bethell RC, McCauley JW. Genetic analysis reveals that both haemagglutinin and neuraminidase determine the sensitivity of naturally occurring avian influenza viruses to zanamivir in vitro. Virology 1999; 263:323-38. [PMID: 10544106 DOI: 10.1006/viro.1999.9931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The basis of differential sensitivity of replication of influenza viruses to the neuraminidase-specific inhibitor zanamivir was examined using four avian influenza viruses and reassortants produced between them. IC(50) values for inhibition of neuraminidase activity by zanamivir were similar for each of the four viruses, whereas the haemagglutinating activity of each of the viruses was relatively insensitive to zanamivir. However, the four viruses showed distinct zanamivir-sensitivity profiles in tissue culture. Analysis of the reassortant viruses showed that sensitivity was determined by the haemagglutinin gene (segment 4) and the neuraminidase gene (segment 6) and was independent of the remaining six RNA segments. Decreased sensitivity to zanamivir was associated with possession of a haemagglutinin that is released from cells with decreased dependence on neuraminidase and with possession of a neuraminidase that has a short stalk region.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Baigent
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute for Animal Health, Compton, Newbury, RG20 7NN, United Kingdom.
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41
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Abstract
Although human epidemics of influenza occur on nearly an annual basis and result in a significant number of "excess deaths," the viruses responsible are not generally considered highly pathogenic. On occasion, however, an outbreak occurs that demonstrates the potential lethality of influenza viruses. The human pandemic of 1918 spread worldwide and killed millions, and the limited human outbreak of highly pathogenic avian viruses in Hong Kong at the end of 1997 is a warning that this could happen again. In avian species such as chickens and turkeys, several outbreaks of highly pathogenic influenza viruses have been documented. Although the reason for the lethality of the human 1918 viruses remains unclear, the pathogenicity of the avian viruses, including those that caused the human 1997 outbreak, relates primarily to properties of the hemagglutinin glycoprotein (HA). Cleavage of the HA precursor molecule HA0 is required to activate virus infectivity, and the distribution of activating proteases in the host is one of the determinants of tropism and, as such, pathogenicity. The HAs of mammalian and nonpathogenic avian viruses are cleaved extracellularly, which limits their spread in hosts to tissues where the appropriate proteases are encountered. On the other hand, the HAs of pathogenic viruses are cleaved intracellularly by ubiquitously occurring proteases and therefore have the capacity to infect various cell types and cause systemic infections. The x-ray crystal structure of HA0 has been solved recently and shows that the cleavage site forms a loop that extends from the surface of the molecule, and it is the composition and structure of the cleavage loop region that dictate the range of proteases that can potentially activate infectivity. Here influenza virus pathogenicity is discussed, with an emphasis on the role of HA0 cleavage as a determining factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Steinhauer
- National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, London, Mill Hill, NW7 1AA, United Kingdom.
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42
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Rowe T, Abernathy RA, Hu-Primmer J, Thompson WW, Lu X, Lim W, Fukuda K, Cox NJ, Katz JM. Detection of antibody to avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in human serum by using a combination of serologic assays. J Clin Microbiol 1999; 37:937-43. [PMID: 10074505 PMCID: PMC88628 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.37.4.937-943.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 656] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
From May to December 1997, 18 cases of mild to severe respiratory illness caused by avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses were identified in Hong Kong. The emergence of an avian virus in the human population prompted an epidemiological investigation to determine the extent of human-to-human transmission of the virus and risk factors associated with infection. The hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, the standard method for serologic detection of influenza virus infection in humans, has been shown to be less sensitive for the detection of antibodies induced by avian influenza viruses. Therefore, we developed a more sensitive microneutralization assay to detect antibodies to avian influenza in humans. Direct comparison of an HI assay and the microneutralization assay demonstrated that the latter was substantially more sensitive in detecting human antibodies to H5N1 virus in infected individuals. An H5-specific indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was also established to test children's sera. The sensitivity and specificity of the microneutralization assay were compared with those of an H5-specific indirect ELISA. When combined with a confirmatory H5-specific Western blot test, the specificities of both assays were improved. Maximum sensitivity (80%) and specificity (96%) for the detection of anti-H5 antibody in adults aged 18 to 59 years were achieved by using the microneutralization assay combined with Western blotting. Maximum sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%) in detecting anti-H5 antibody in sera obtained from children less than 15 years of age were achieved by using ELISA combined with Western blotting. This new test algorithm is being used for the seroepidemiologic investigations of the avian H5N1 influenza outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Rowe
- Influenza Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
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43
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Shortridge KF, Zhou NN, Guan Y, Gao P, Ito T, Kawaoka Y, Kodihalli S, Krauss S, Markwell D, Murti KG, Norwood M, Senne D, Sims L, Takada A, Webster RG. Characterization of avian H5N1 influenza viruses from poultry in Hong Kong. Virology 1998; 252:331-42. [PMID: 9878612 DOI: 10.1006/viro.1998.9488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 404] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The transmission of avian H5N1 influenza viruses to 18 humans in Hong Kong in 1997 with six deaths established that avian influenza viruses can transmit to and cause lethal infection in humans. This report characterizes the antigenic and biological properties of the H5N1 influenza viruses isolated from chickens, ducks, and geese from farms and poultry markets in Hong Kong during 1997 and compares them with those of virus isolated from the index human case. Each of the H5N1 viruses from Hong Kong poultry markets that were tested were lethal in chickens, possessed polybasic amino acids at the carboxy-terminus of HA1, and by definition were highly pathogenic in poultry. The available nonpathogenic H5 influenza viruses and the pathogenic H5N1 virus from Hong Kong were analyzed with monoclonal antibodies prepared to A/chicken/Pennsylvania/1370/83 (H5N2). The analysis revealed limited antigenic drift in 15 years and established that monoclonal antibodies are useful reagents for identification and antigenic analysis of avian strains that may transmit to humans in the future. One of the monoclonal antibodies permitted separation of the H5N1 influenza viruses from poultry into two groups that correlated with the presence or absence of a carbohydrate at residue 158 adjacent to the receptor binding site on HA. The H5N1 viruses examined replicated in geese, pigs, rats, and mice, but to only a very limited extent in ducks. It is noteworthy that all infected geese shed virus and that the H5N1 viruses caused disease signs and death in a portion (3 of 16) of the geese, with evidence of systemic spread to the brain. The tropism for geese is unusual and may provide insight into the origin of these viruses. In mice, the H5N1 virus caused lethal pneumonia and spread systemically to the brain. Mice would thus provide an ideal model system for studying immune responses and pathogenesis. Transmission experiments in chickens revealed that the H5N1 viruses are spread by fecal-oral transmission rather than by aerosol, and that the viruses are inactivated by drying of feces at ambient temperature. However, infectivity is maintained for at least 4 days in wet feces at 25 degreesC. There were differences in the morphology of the H5N1 viruses isolated from birds and humans. The perpetuation of H5N1 influenza viruses in the poultry markets in Hong Kong and the transmission of these viruses to humans emphasize the importance of these markets in the epidemiology of influenza. The poultry markets are of critical importance in the perpetuation and transmission of influenza viruses to other avian species and to mammals, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- K F Shortridge
- Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
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44
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García-Sastre A, Durbin RK, Zheng H, Palese P, Gertner R, Levy DE, Durbin JE. The role of interferon in influenza virus tissue tropism. J Virol 1998; 72:8550-8. [PMID: 9765393 PMCID: PMC110265 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.72.11.8550-8558.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 239] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/1998] [Accepted: 07/14/1998] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
We have studied the pathogenesis of influenza virus infection in mice that are unable to respond to type I or II interferons due to a targeted disruption of the STAT1 gene. STAT1-/- animals are 100-fold more sensitive to lethal infection with influenza A/WSN/33 virus than are their wild-type (WT) counterparts. Virus replicated only in the lungs of WT animals following intranasal (i.n.) virus inoculation, while STAT1-/- mice developed a fulminant systemic influenza virus infection following either i.n. or intraperitoneal inoculation. We investigated the mechanism underlying this altered virus tropism by comparing levels of virus replication in fibroblast cell lines and murine embryonic fibroblasts derived from WT mice, STAT-/- mice, and mice lacking gamma interferon (IFNgamma-/- mice) or the IFN-alpha receptor (IFNalphaR-/- mice). Influenza A/WSN/33 virus replicates to high titers in STAT1-/- or IFNalphaR-/- fibroblasts, while cells derived from WT or IFNgamma-/- animals are resistant to influenza virus infection. Immunofluorescence studies using WT fibroblast cell lines demonstrated that only a small subpopulation of WT cells can be infected and that in the few infected WT cells, virus replication is aborted at an early, nuclear phase. In all organs examined except the lung, influenza A WSN/33 virus infection is apparently prevented by an intact type I interferon response. Our results demonstrate that type I interferon plays an important role in determining the pathogenicity and tissue restriction of influenza A/WSN/33 virus in vivo and in vitro.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Intranasal
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Cells, Cultured
- DNA Primers/genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins/physiology
- Hemagglutinins, Viral/physiology
- Influenza A virus/genetics
- Influenza A virus/pathogenicity
- Influenza A virus/physiology
- Injections, Intraperitoneal
- Interferon-gamma/genetics
- Interferon-gamma/physiology
- Lung/immunology
- Lung/virology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Organ Specificity
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections/etiology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections/immunology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections/virology
- RNA, Viral/genetics
- Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta
- Receptors, Interferon/genetics
- Receptors, Interferon/physiology
- STAT1 Transcription Factor
- Trans-Activators/genetics
- Trans-Activators/physiology
- Virus Replication/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- A García-Sastre
- Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA
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45
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Claas EC, Osterhaus AD, van Beek R, De Jong JC, Rimmelzwaan GF, Senne DA, Krauss S, Shortridge KF, Webster RG. Human influenza A H5N1 virus related to a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Lancet 1998; 351:472-7. [PMID: 9482438 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(97)11212-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 991] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In May, 1997, a 3-year-old boy in Hong Kong was admitted to the hospital and subsequently died from influenza pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, Reye's syndrome, multiorgan failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. An influenza A H5N1 virus was isolated from a tracheal aspirate of the boy. Preceding this incident, avian influenza outbreaks of high mortality were reported from three chicken farms in Hong Kong, and the virus involved was also found to be of the H5 subtype. METHODS We carried out an antigenic and molecular comparison of the influenza A H5N1 virus isolated from the boy with one of the viruses isolated from outbreaks of avian influenza by haemagglutination-inhibition and neuraminidase-inhibition assays and nucleotide sequence analysis. FINDINGS Differences were observed in the antigenic reactivities of the viruses by the haemagglutination-inhibition assay. However, nucleotide sequence analysis of all gene segments revealed that the human virus A/Hong Kong/156/97 was genetically closely related to the avian A/chicken/Hong Kong/258/97. INTERPRETATION Although direct contact between the sick child and affected chickens has not been established, our results suggest transmission of the virus from infected chickens to the child without another intermediate mammalian host acting as a "mixing vessel". This event illustrates the importance of intensive global influenza surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- E C Claas
- Department of Virology and WHO National Influenza Centre, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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46
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Brassard DL, Lamb RA. Expression of influenza B virus hemagglutinin containing multibasic residue cleavage sites. Virology 1997; 236:234-48. [PMID: 9325231 DOI: 10.1006/viro.1997.8749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The hemagglutinin (HA) protein of influenza B virus contains a single arginine residue at its cleavage site and the HA0 precursor is not cleaved to the HA1 and HA2 subunits by tissue culture cell-associated proteases. To investigate if an HA protein could be obtained that could be cleaved by an endogenous cellular protease, the cDNA for HA of influenza B/MD/59 virus was subjected to site-specific mutagenesis. Three HA mutant proteins were constructed, through substitution or insertion of arginine residues, that have 4, 5, or 6 basic residues at their cleavage sites. Chemical cross-linking studies indicated that all three HA cleavage site mutants could oligomerize to a trimeric species, like WT HA. The three HA cleavage site mutant proteins were efficiently transported to the cell surface and bound erythrocytes in hemadsorption assays. The mutants were cleaved at a low level to HA1 and HA2 by an endogenous host cell protease and cleavage could be increased somewhat by addition of exogenous trypsin. The fusogenic activities of the HA cleavage site mutants were assessed in comparison to the WT HA protein by determining their syncytium formation ability and by using an R18 lipid-mixing assay and a NBD-taurine aqueous-content mixing assay. While the fusion activity of the WT HA protein was dependent on exogenous trypsin to activate HA, the three HA cleavage site mutant proteins were able to induce fusion in the absence of trypsin when assayed with the R18 lipid-mixing and NBD-taurine aqueous-content mixing assays, but were unable to induce syncytium formation in either the presence or absence of exogenous trypsin. Our results suggest that while the presence of a subtilisin-like protease cleavage sequence at the influenza B virus HA1/HA2 boundary does enable some HA0 molecules to be cleaved intracellularly, it alone is not sufficient for efficient cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- D L Brassard
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3500, USA
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47
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Kodihalli S, Haynes JR, Robinson HL, Webster RG. Cross-protection among lethal H5N2 influenza viruses induced by DNA vaccine to the hemagglutinin. J Virol 1997; 71:3391-6. [PMID: 9094608 PMCID: PMC191483 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.71.5.3391-3396.1997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Inoculation of mice with hemagglutinin (HA)-expressing DNA affords reliable protection against lethal influenza virus infection, while in chickens the same strategy has yielded variable results. Here we show that gene gun delivery of DNA encoding an H5 HA protein confers complete immune protection to chickens challenged with lethal H5 viruses. In tests of the influence of promoter selection on vaccine efficacy, close correlations were obtained between immune responses and the dose of DNA administered, whether a cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early promoter or a chicken beta-actin promoter was used. Perhaps most important, the HA-DNA vaccine conferred 95% cross-protection against challenge with lethal antigenic variants that differed from the primary antigen by 11 to 13% (HA1 amino acid sequence homology). Overall, the high levels of protection seen with gene gun delivery of HA-DNA were as good as, if not better than, those achieved with a conventional whole-virus vaccine, with fewer instances of morbidity and death. The absence of detectable antibody titers after primary immunization, together with the rapid appearance of high titers immediately after challenge, implicates efficient B-cell priming as the principal mechanism of DNA-mediated immune protection. Our results suggest that the efficacy of HA-DNA influenza virus vaccine in mice extends to chickens and probably to other avian species as well. Indeed, the H5 preparation we describe offers an attractive means to protect the domestic poultry industry in the United States from lethal H5N2 viruses, which continue to circulate in Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kodihalli
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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48
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Perdue ML, Garcia M, Beck J, Brugh M, Swayne DE. An Arg-Lys insertion at the hemagglutinin cleavage site of an H5N2 avian influenza isolate. Virus Genes 1996; 12:77-84. [PMID: 8879123 DOI: 10.1007/bf00370003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent isolations of H5N2 subtype avian influenza (AI) viruses in North America have raised questions concerning their origin, transmission to commercial poultry, and potential for virulence. One ratite-origin isolate of low pathogenicity, A/emu/TX/39924/93 (H5N2), was subjected to a procedure that rapidly selects and/or amplifies highly pathogenic (HP) strains. The resulting highly virulent derivative had an altered hemagglutinin (HA) gene containing an additional six nucleotides at position 970-975 in the HA1 coding region. This resulted in an arg-lys insertion near the proteolytic cleavage site of the HA protein. The remainder of the HA sequence differed by an additional seven amino acids from the parent. The HA precursor of the derivative, but not the parent, was readily cleaved during replication in cell culture without addition of trypsin. In experimentally infected chickens, the derivative produced lesions typical of highly pathogenic avian influenza. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) primer set was designed to amplify exclusively from molecules with the inserted six nucleotides. The set yielded product only from the selected derivative samples and not the parent. Thus, the levels of the HP variants in the parent stock were undetectable, or the insertion occurred rapidly during the selection process.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Perdue
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Athens, GA 30605, USA
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49
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Horimoto T, Kawaoka Y. Direct reverse transcriptase PCR to determine virulence potential of influenza A viruses in birds. J Clin Microbiol 1995; 33:748-51. [PMID: 7751390 PMCID: PMC228028 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.33.3.748-751.1995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was used for rapid determination of the hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site sequence, a marker for the virulence potential of avian influenza viruses. When applied to specimens from chickens experimentally infected with either a virulent or an avirulent virus, RT-PCR uniformly detected the HA gene, even in specimens that were negative for virus by standard testing in eggs. This technique, combined with sequencing of the HA cleavage site, offers a rapid and sensitive way to assess the virulence potential of avian influenza viruses. Early detection of field isolates with virulence-associated structural motifs at the HA cleavage site would allow better control of influenza among large poultry populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Horimoto
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38101, USA
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50
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Horimoto T, Nakayama K, Smeekens SP, Kawaoka Y. Proprotein-processing endoproteases PC6 and furin both activate hemagglutinin of virulent avian influenza viruses. J Virol 1994; 68:6074-8. [PMID: 8057485 PMCID: PMC237016 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.68.9.6074-6078.1994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the proprotein-processing subtilisin-related endoproteases, furin has been a leading candidate for the enzyme that activates the hemagglutinin (HA) of virulent avian influenza viruses. In the present study, we examined the cleavage activity of two other recently isolated ubiquitous subtilisin-related proteases, PACE4 and PC6, using wild-type HA of A/turkey/Ireland/1378/83 (H5N8) and a series of its mutant HAs. Vaccinia virus-expressed wild-type HA was not cleaved in human colon adenocarcinoma LoVo cells, which lack active furin. This processing defect was corrected by the expression of furin and PC6 but not of PACE4 and a control wild-type vaccinia virus. PC6 showed a sequence specificity similar to that with the endogenous proteases in cultured cells. When LoVo cells were infected with a virulent avian virus, A/turkey/Ontario/7732/66 (H5N9), only noninfectious virions were produced because of the lack of HA cleavage. However, when the cells were coinfected with vaccinia virus that expressed either furin or PC6, the avian virus underwent multiple cycles of replication, indicating that both furin and PC6 specifically cleave the virulent virus HA at the authentic site. These data suggest that PC6, as well as furin, can activate virulent avian influenza viruses in vivo, implying the presence of multiple HA cleavage enzymes in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Horimoto
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38101
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