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Hou Y, Deng G, Cui P, Zeng X, Li B, Wang D, He X, Yan C, Zhang Y, Li J, Ma J, Li Y, Wang X, Tian G, Kong H, Tang L, Suzuki Y, Shi J, Chen H. Evolution of H7N9 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in the context of vaccination. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2343912. [PMID: 38629574 PMCID: PMC11060016 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2343912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Human infections with the H7N9 influenza virus have been eliminated in China through vaccination of poultry; however, the H7N9 virus has not yet been eradicated from poultry. Carefully analysis of H7N9 viruses in poultry that have sub-optimal immunity may provide a unique opportunity to witness the evolution of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in the context of vaccination. Between January 2020 and June 2023, we isolated 16 H7N9 viruses from samples we collected during surveillance and samples that were sent to us for disease diagnosis. Genetic analysis indicated that these viruses belonged to a single genotype previously detected in poultry. Antigenic analysis indicated that 12 of the 16 viruses were antigenically close to the H7-Re4 vaccine virus that has been used since January 2022, and the other four viruses showed reduced reactivity with the vaccine. Animal studies indicated that all 16 viruses were nonlethal in mice, and four of six viruses showed reduced virulence in chickens upon intranasally inoculation. Importantly, the H7N9 viruses detected in this study exclusively bound to the avian-type receptors, having lost the capacity to bind to human-type receptors. Our study shows that vaccination slows the evolution of H7N9 virus by preventing its reassortment with other viruses and eliminates a harmful characteristic of H7N9 virus, namely its ability to bind to human-type receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Hou
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guohua Deng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pengfei Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dongxue Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinwen He
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cheng Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiongjie Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinming Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Western Agriculture, CAAS, Changji, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanbing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiurong Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guobin Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huihui Kong
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijie Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yasuo Suzuki
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Shizuoka School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Jianzhong Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Western Agriculture, CAAS, Changji, People's Republic of China
| | - Hualan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS,Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
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Guan L, Babujee L, Presler R, Pattinson D, Nguyen HLK, Hoang VMP, Le MQ, van Bakel H, Kawaoka Y, Neumann G. Avian H6 Influenza Viruses in Vietnamese Live Bird Markets during 2018-2021. Viruses 2024; 16:367. [PMID: 38543733 PMCID: PMC10975462 DOI: 10.3390/v16030367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza viruses of the H6 subtype are prevalent in wild ducks and likely play an important role in the ecology of influenza viruses through reassortment with other avian influenza viruses. Yet, only 152 Vietnamese H6 virus sequences were available in GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data) prior to this study with the most recent sequences being from 2018. Through surveillance in Vietnamese live bird markets from 2018 to 2021, we identified 287 samples containing one or several H6 viruses and other influenza A virus subtypes, demonstrating a high rate of co-infections among birds in Vietnamese live bird markets. For the 132 H6 samples with unique influenza virus sequences, we conducted phylogenetic and genetic analyses. Most of the H6 viruses were similar to each other and closely related to other H6 viruses; however, signs of reassortment with other avian influenza viruses were evident. At the genetic level, the Vietnamese H6 viruses characterized in our study encode a single basic amino acid at the HA cleavage site, consistent with low pathogenicity in poultry. The Vietnamese H6 viruses analyzed here possess an amino acid motif in HA that confers binding to both avian- and human-type receptors on host cells, consistent with their ability to infect mammals. The frequent detection of H6 viruses in Vietnamese live bird markets, the high rate of co-infections of birds with different influenza viruses, and the dual receptor-binding specificity of these viruses warrant their close monitoring for potential infection and spread among mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizheng Guan
- Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (L.G.); (L.B.); (D.P.)
| | - Lavanya Babujee
- Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (L.G.); (L.B.); (D.P.)
| | - Robert Presler
- Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (L.G.); (L.B.); (D.P.)
| | - David Pattinson
- Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (L.G.); (L.B.); (D.P.)
| | - Hang Le Khanh Nguyen
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (H.L.K.N.); (V.M.P.H.); (M.Q.L.)
| | - Vu Mai Phuong Hoang
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (H.L.K.N.); (V.M.P.H.); (M.Q.L.)
| | - Mai Quynh Le
- National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam; (H.L.K.N.); (V.M.P.H.); (M.Q.L.)
| | - Harm van Bakel
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Services, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
| | - Yoshihiro Kawaoka
- Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (L.G.); (L.B.); (D.P.)
- Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Research Center for Global Viral Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan
- Infection and Advanced Research (UTOPIA) Center, The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Gabriele Neumann
- Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (L.G.); (L.B.); (D.P.)
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Naiqing X, Tang X, Wang X, Cai M, Liu X, Lu X, Hu S, Gu M, Hu J, Gao R, Liu K, Chen Y, Liu X, Wang X. Hemagglutinin affects replication, stability and airborne transmission of the H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus. Virology 2024; 589:109926. [PMID: 37952465 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2023.109926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) can transmit by direct as well as airborne contacts. It has been widespread in poultry and continued to contribute to zoonotic spillover events by providing its six internal genes for the reassortment of novel influenza viruses (eg, H7N9) that infect poultry and humans. Compared to H7N9, H9N2 virus displays an efficient airborne transmissibility in poultry, but the mechanisms of transmission difference have been insufficiently studied. The Hemagglutinin (HA) and viral polymerase acidic protein (PA) have been implicated in the airborne transmission of influenza A viruses. Accordingly, we generated the reassortant viruses of circulating airborne transmissible H9N2 and non-airborne transmissible H7N9 viruses carrying HA and/or PA gene. The introduction of the PA gene from H7N9 into the genome of H9N2 virus resulted in a reduction in airborne transmission among chickens, while the isolated introduction of the HA gene segment completely eliminated airborne transmission among chickens. We further showed that introduction of HA gene of non-transmissible H7N9 did not influence the HA/NA balance of H9N2 virus, but increased the threshold for membrane fusion and decreased the acid stability. Thus, our results indicate that HA protein plays a key role in replication, stability, and airborne transmission of the H9N2 subtype AIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Naiqing
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xinen Tang
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xin Wang
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Miao Cai
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xiaowen Liu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Xiaolong Lu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Shunlin Hu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Min Gu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Jiao Hu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Ruyi Gao
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Kaituo Liu
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Yu Chen
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Xiufan Liu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Xiaoquan Wang
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
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Xu N, Wang X, Cai M, Tang X, Yang W, Lu X, Liu X, Hu S, Gu M, Hu J, Gao R, Liu K, Chen Y, Liu X, Wang X. Mutations in HA and PA affect the transmissibility of H7N9 avian influenza virus in chickens. Vet Microbiol 2023; 287:109910. [PMID: 38016409 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Low pathogenic (LP) H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) emerged in 2013 and had spread widely over several months in China, experienced a noteworthy reduction in isolation rate in poultry and human since 2017. Here, we examined the transmission of H7N9 viruses to better understand viral spread and dissemination mechanisms. Three out of four viruses (2013-2016) could transmit in chickens through direct contact, and airborne transmission was confirmed in the JT157 (2016) virus. However, we did not detect the transmission of the two 2017 viruses, WF69 and AH395, through either direct or airborne exposure. Molecular analysis of genome sequence of two viruses identified eleven mutations located in viral proteins (except for matrix protein), such as PA (K362R and S364N) and HA (D167N, H7 numbering), etc. We explored the genetic determinants that contributed to the difference in transmissibility of the viruses in chickens by generating a series of reassortants in the JT157 background. We found that the replacement of HA gene in JT157 by that of WF69 abrogated the airborne transmission in recipient chickens, whereas the combination of HA and PA replacement led to the loss of airborne and direct contact transmission. Failure with contact transmission of the viruses has been associated with the emergence of the mutations D167N in HA and K362R and S364N in PA. Furthermore, the HA D167N mutation significantly reduced viral attachment to chicken lung and trachea tissues, while mutations K362R and S364N in PA reduced the nuclear transport efficiency and the PA protein expression levels in both cytoplasm and nucleus of CEF cells. The D167N substitution in HA reduced the H7N9 viral acid stability and avian-like receptor binding, while enhanced human-like receptor binding. Further analysis revealed these mutants grew poorly in vitro and in vivo. To conclude, H7N9 AIVs that contain mutations in the HA and PA protein reduced the viral transmissibility in chicken, and may pose a reduced threat for poultry but remain a heightened public health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiqing Xu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miao Cai
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinen Tang
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenhao Yang
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaolong Lu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaowen Liu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Shunlin Hu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Min Gu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jiao Hu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ruyi Gao
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kaituo Liu
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiufan Liu
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Xiaoquan Wang
- Animal Infectious Disease Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
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Yan Z, Li Y, Huang S, Wen F. Global distribution, receptor binding, and cross-species transmission of H6 influenza viruses: risks and implications for humans. J Virol 2023; 97:e0137023. [PMID: 37877722 PMCID: PMC10688349 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01370-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The H6 subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV) is a pervasive subtype that is ubiquitously found in both wild bird and poultry populations across the globe. Recent investigations have unveiled its capacity to infect mammals, thereby expanding its host range beyond that of other subtypes and potentially facilitating its global transmission. This heightened breadth also endows H6 AIVs with the potential to serve as a genetic reservoir for the emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza strains through genetic reassortment and adaptive mutations. Furthermore, alterations in key amino acid loci within the H6 AIV genome foster the evolution of viral infection mechanisms, which may enable the virus to surmount interspecies barriers and infect mammals, including humans, thus posing a potential threat to human well-being. In this review, we summarize the origins, dissemination patterns, geographical distribution, cross-species transmission dynamics, and genetic attributes of H6 influenza viruses. This study holds implications for the timely detection and surveillance of H6 AIVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanfei Yan
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - You Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Shujian Huang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Feng Wen
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
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Lin M, Yao QC, Liu J, Huo M, Zhou Y, Chen M, Li Y, Gao Y, Ge Y. Evolution and Reassortment of H6 Subtype Avian Influenza Viruses. Viruses 2023; 15:1547. [PMID: 37515233 PMCID: PMC10383184 DOI: 10.3390/v15071547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The H6 subtype of avian influenza virus (H6 AIV) is the most detected AIV subtype in poultry and wild birds. It causes economic losses to the poultry industry, and the most important, H6 AIV may have the ability to infect mammals, which is a great threat to public health security. In addition, the H6 subtype can serve as a precursor to providing internal genes for other highly pathogenic AIVs, posing a potential threat. H6 AIV currently face to the high positive detection rate and harmless nature of H6 AIV and because not highly effective H6 subtype vaccine available on the market. In this study, we focused on the prevalence of H6 AIV in poultry and wild birds, phylogenetic analysis, genetic variation characteristics, selection analysis, and prevention and control to provide relevant references for the scientific prevention and control of H6 AIV in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingqin Lin
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Qiu-Cheng Yao
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Jing Liu
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Miaotong Huo
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Minyi Chen
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yuanguo Li
- Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Yuwei Gao
- Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Ye Ge
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
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Zhang Y, Shi J, Cui P, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Hou Y, Liu L, Jiang Y, Guan Y, Chen H, Kong H, Deng G. Genetic analysis and biological characterization of H10N3 influenza A viruses isolated in China from 2014 to 2021. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28476. [PMID: 36609855 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The H10 subtypes of avian influenza viruses pose a continual threat to the poultry industry and human health. The sporadic spillover of H10 subtypes viruses from poultry to humans is represented by the H10N8 human cases in 2013 and the recent H10N3 human infection in 2021. However, the genesis and characteristics of the recent reassortment H10N3 viruses have not been systemically investigated. In this study, we characterized 20 H10N3 viruses isolated in live poultry markets during routine nationwide surveillance in China from 2014 to 2021. The viruses in the recent reassortant genotype acquired their hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes from the duck H10 viruses and H7N3 viruses, respectively, whereas the internal genes were derived from chicken H9N2 viruses as early as 2019. Receptor-binding analysis indicated that two of the tested H10N3 viruses had a higher affinity for human-type receptors than for avian-type receptors, highlighting the potential risk of avian-to-human transmission. Animal studies showed that only viruses belonging to the recent reassortant genotype were pathogenic in mice; two tested viruses transmitted via direct contact and one virus transmitted by respiratory droplets in guinea pigs, though with limited efficiency. These findings emphasize the need for enhanced surveillance of H10N3 viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuancheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Jianzhong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Pengfei Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Yaping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Yujie Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Liling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Yongping Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Yuntao Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Hualan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Huihui Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
| | - Guohua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China
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Gu W, Shi J, Cui P, Yan C, Zhang Y, Wang C, Zhang Y, Xing X, Zeng X, Liu L, Tian G, Suzuki Y, Li C, Deng G, Chen H. Novel H5N6 reassortants bearing the clade 2.3.4.4b HA gene of H5N8 virus have been detected in poultry and caused multiple human infections in China. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:1174-1185. [PMID: 35380505 PMCID: PMC9126593 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2063076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The globally circulating H5N8 avian influenza viruses bearing the clade 2.3.4.4b hemagglutinin (HA) gene are responsible for the loss of more than 33 million domestic poultry since January 2020. Moreover, the H5N8 viruses have reassorted with other avian influenza viruses and formed H5N1, H5N2, H5N3, H5N4, and H5N5 viruses in Europe, Africa, and North America. In this study, we analyzed 15 H5N6 viruses isolated from poultry and seven H5N6 viruses isolated from humans, and found these viruses formed seven different genotypes by deriving the clade 2.3.4.4b HA gene of H5N8 viruses, the neuraminidase of domestic duck H5N6 viruses, and internal genes of different viruses that previously circulated in domestic ducks and wild birds in China. Two of these genotypes (genotype 3 and genotype 6) have caused human infections in multiple provinces. The H5N6 viruses isolated from poultry have distinct pathotypes in mice; some of them replicate systemically and are highly lethal in mice. Although these viruses exclusively bind to avian-type receptors, it is worrisome that they may obtain key mutations that would increase their affinity for human-type receptors during replication in humans. Our study indicates that the novel H5N6 reassortants bearing the clade 2.3.4.4b HA gene of H5N8 viruses were generated through reassortment in domestic ducks and may have spread across a wide area of China, thereby posing a new challenge to the poultry industry and human health. Our findings emphasize the importance of careful monitoring, evaluation, and control of the H5N6 viruses circulating in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianzhong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengfei Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Congcong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuancheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Liling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Guobin Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yasuo Suzuki
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Shizuoka School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Chengjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Guohua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Hualan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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9
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Cui J, Cui P, Shi J, Fan W, Xing X, Gu W, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zeng X, Jiang Y, Chen P, Yang H, Chen Y, Liu J, Liu L, Tian G, Lu Y, Chen H, Li C, Deng G. Continued evolution of H6 avian influenza viruses isolated from farms in China between 2014 and 2018. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:2156-2172. [PMID: 34192815 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
H6 avian influenza virus (AIV) is one of the most prevalent AIV subtypes in the world. Our previous studies have demonstrated that H6 AIVs isolated from live poultry markets pose a potential threat to human health. In recent years, increasing number of H6 AIVs has been constantly isolated from poultry farms. In order to understand the biological characteristics of H6 AIVs in the context of farms, here, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationships, antigenicity, replication in mice and receptor binding properties of H6 AIVs isolated from farms in China between 2014 and 2018. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 19 different genotypes were formed among 20 representative H6 viruses. Notably, the internal genes of these H6 viruses exhibited complicated relationships with different subtypes of AIVs worldwide, indicating that these viruses are the products of complex and frequent reassortment events. Antigenic analysis revealed that 13 viruses tested were divided into three antigenic groups. 10 viruses examined could all replicate in the respiratory organs of infected mice without prior adaptation. Receptor binding analysis demonstrated that some of the H6 AIVs bound to both α-2, 3-linked glycans (avian-type receptor) and α-2, 6-linked glycans (human-type receptor), thereby posing a potential threat to human health. Together, these findings revealed the prevalence, complicated genetic evolution, diverse antigenicity, and dual receptor binding specificity of H6 AIVs in the settings of poultry farms, which emphasize the importance to continuously monitor the evolution and biological properties of H6 AIVs in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Pengfei Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Jianzhong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Weifeng Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Xin Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Wenli Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Yuancheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Yaping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Xianying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Yongping Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Pucheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Huanliang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Yan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Jinxiong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Liling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Guobin Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Yixin Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Hualan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Chengjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
| | - Guohua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, P. R. China
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10
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The Genomic Evolution and the Transmission Dynamics of H6N2 Avian Influenza A Viruses in Southern China. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061154. [PMID: 35746626 PMCID: PMC9229805 DOI: 10.3390/v14061154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In China, the broad prevalence of H6 subtype influenza viruses, increasingly detected in aquatic birds, promotes their exchange materials with other highly pathogenic human-infecting H5N1, H5N6, and H7N9 influenza viruses. Strikingly, some H6 subtype viruses can infect pigs, dogs, and humans, posing risks to public health. In this study, 9 H6N2 viruses recovered from waterfowl species in the Guangdong province of China in 2018 were isolated and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genome sequences of these H6N2 viruses belonged to Group I, except for the NP gene in Group III. Coalescent analyses demonstrated that the reassortment of NA and NS genes have occurred in two independent clusters, suggesting H6 subtype viruses had been undergoing a complex reassortant. To examine the evolutionary dynamics and the dissemination of the H6 subtype viruses, a Bayesian stochastic search variable selection was performed for results showing higher viral migration rates between closer provinces, including Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Fujian. Notably, the transmission routes of the H6 subtype viruses were concentrated in Jiangxi Province, the most frequent location for input and output transmission and a region containing Poyang Lake, a well-known wintering site for migration birds. We also found that the aquatic birds, especially ducks, were the most common input source of the viral transmission. In addition, we also found that eight positively selected amino acid sites were identified in HA protein. Given their continuous dissemination and the broad prevalence of the H6 subtype influenza viruses, continued surveillance is warranted in the future.
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11
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Kong X, Guan L, Shi J, Kong H, Zhang Y, Zeng X, Tian G, Liu L, Li C, Kawaoka Y, Deng G, Chen H. A single-amino-acid mutation at position 225 in hemagglutinin attenuates H5N6 influenza virus in mice. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 10:2052-2061. [PMID: 34686117 PMCID: PMC8583753 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1997340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N6 viruses are widely circulating in poultry and wild birds, and have caused 38 human infections including 21 deaths; however, the key genetic determinants of the pathogenicity of these viruses have yet to be fully investigated. Here, we characterized two H5N6 avian influenza viruses - A/duck/Guangdong/S1330/2016 (GD/330) and A/environment/Fujian/S1160/2016 (FJ/160) - that have similar viral genomes but differ markedly in their lethality in mice. GD/330 is highly pathogenic with a 50% mouse lethal dose (MLD50) of 2.5 log10 50% egg infectious doses (EID50), whereas FJ/160 exhibits low pathogenicity with an MLD50 of 7.4 log10 EID50. We explored the molecular basis for the difference in virulence between these two viruses. By using reverse genetics, we created a series of reassortants and mutants in the GD/330 background and assessed their virulence in mice. We found that the HA gene of FJ/160 substantially attenuated the virulence of GD/330 and that the mutation of glycine (G) to tryptophan (W) at position 225 (H3 numbering) in HA played a key role in this function. We further found that the amino acid mutation G225W in HA decreased the acid and thermal stability and increased the pH of HA activation, thereby attenuating the H5N6 virus in mice. Our study thus identifies a novel molecular determinant in the HA protein and provides a new target for the development of live attenuated vaccines and antiviral drugs against H5 influenza viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingtian Kong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lizheng Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianzhong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huihui Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guobin Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chengjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yoshihiro Kawaoka
- Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Guohua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hualan Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
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12
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Wan Z, Kan Q, Zhao Z, Shao H, Deliberto TJ, Wan XF, Qin A, Ye J. Characterization of Subtype H6 Avian Influenza A Viruses Isolated From Wild Birds in Poyang Lake, China. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:685399. [PMID: 34589532 PMCID: PMC8473872 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.685399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Subtype H6 avian influenza A viruses (IAVs) are enzootic and genetically diverse in both domestic poultry and wild waterfowl and may cause spillovers in both pigs and humans. Thus, it is important to understand the genetic diversity of H6 IAVs in birds and their zoonotic potential. Compared with that in domestic poultry, the genetic diversity of H6 viruses in wild birds in China has not been well-understood. In this study, five H6 viruses were isolated from wild birds in Poyang Lake, China, and genetic analyses showed that these isolates are clustered into four genotypes associated with reassortments among avian IAVs from domestic poultry and wild birds in China and those from Eurasia and North America and that these viruses exhibited distinct phenotypes in growth kinetics analyses with avian and mammalian cells lines and in mouse challenge experiments. Of interest is that two H6 isolates from the Eurasian teal replicated effectively in the mouse lung without prior adaptation, whereas the other three did not. Our study suggested that there are variations in the mammalian viral replication efficiency phenotypic among genetically diverse H6 IAVs in wild birds and that both intra- and inter-continental movements of IAVs through wild bird migration may facilitate the emergence of novel H6 IAV reassortants with the potential for replicating in mammals, including humans. Continued surveillance to monitor the diversity of H6 IAVs in wild birds is necessary to increase our understanding of the natural history of IAVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Wan
- Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory for Avian Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qiuqi Kan
- Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory for Avian Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhehong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory for Avian Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Hongxia Shao
- Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory for Avian Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Thomas J Deliberto
- National Wildlife Disease Program, Wildlife Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Xiu-Feng Wan
- University of Missouri Center for Influenza and Emerging infectious Diseases, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Aijian Qin
- Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory for Avian Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jianqiang Ye
- Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory for Avian Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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13
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Mercan Y, Atim G, Kayed AE, Azbazdar ME, Kandeil A, Ali MA, Rubrum A, McKenzie P, Webby RJ, Erima B, Wabwire-Mangen F, Ukuli QA, Tugume T, Byarugaba DK, Kayali G, Ducatez MF, Koçer ZA. Molecular Characterization of Closely Related H6N2 Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from Turkey, Egypt, and Uganda. Viruses 2021; 13:v13040607. [PMID: 33918166 PMCID: PMC8065897 DOI: 10.3390/v13040607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic analysis of circulating avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in wild birds at different geographical regions during the same period could improve our knowledge about virus transmission dynamics in natural hosts, virus evolution as well as zoonotic potential. Here, we report the genetic and molecular characterization of H6N2 influenza viruses isolated from migratory birds in Turkey, Egypt, and Uganda during 2017–2018. The Egyptian and Turkish isolates were genetically closer to each other than they were to the virus isolated from Uganda. Our results also suggest that multiple reassortment events were involved in the genesis of the isolated viruses. All viruses contained molecular markers previously associated with increased replication and/or pathogenicity in mammals. The results of this study indicate that H6N2 viruses carried by migratory birds on the West Asian/East African and Mediterranean/Black Sea flyways have the potential to transmit to mammals including humans. Additionally, adaptation markers in these viruses indicate the potential risk for poultry, which also increases the possibility of human exposure to these viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yavuz Mercan
- Emerging Viral Diseases Laboratory, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (Y.M.); (M.E.A.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gladys Atim
- Makerere University Walter Reed Project, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda; (G.A.); (B.E.); (F.W.-M.); (Q.A.U.); (T.T.); (D.K.B.)
| | - Ahmed E. Kayed
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12311, Egypt; (A.E.K.); (A.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - M. Ekin Azbazdar
- Emerging Viral Diseases Laboratory, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (Y.M.); (M.E.A.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ahmed Kandeil
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12311, Egypt; (A.E.K.); (A.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Mohamed A. Ali
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza 12311, Egypt; (A.E.K.); (A.K.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Adam Rubrum
- St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; (A.R.); (P.M.); (R.J.W.)
| | - Pamela McKenzie
- St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; (A.R.); (P.M.); (R.J.W.)
| | - Richard J. Webby
- St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; (A.R.); (P.M.); (R.J.W.)
| | - Bernard Erima
- Makerere University Walter Reed Project, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda; (G.A.); (B.E.); (F.W.-M.); (Q.A.U.); (T.T.); (D.K.B.)
| | - Fred Wabwire-Mangen
- Makerere University Walter Reed Project, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda; (G.A.); (B.E.); (F.W.-M.); (Q.A.U.); (T.T.); (D.K.B.)
- School of Public Health, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
| | - Qouilazoni A. Ukuli
- Makerere University Walter Reed Project, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda; (G.A.); (B.E.); (F.W.-M.); (Q.A.U.); (T.T.); (D.K.B.)
| | - Titus Tugume
- Makerere University Walter Reed Project, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda; (G.A.); (B.E.); (F.W.-M.); (Q.A.U.); (T.T.); (D.K.B.)
| | - Denis K. Byarugaba
- Makerere University Walter Reed Project, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda; (G.A.); (B.E.); (F.W.-M.); (Q.A.U.); (T.T.); (D.K.B.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ghazi Kayali
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Human Link, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Zeynep A. Koçer
- Emerging Viral Diseases Laboratory, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (Y.M.); (M.E.A.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +90-232-299-4165
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14
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Wang D, Zhu W, Yang L, Shu Y. The Epidemiology, Virology, and Pathogenicity of Human Infections with Avian Influenza Viruses. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2021; 11:cshperspect.a038620. [PMID: 31964651 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a038620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Influenza is a global challenge, and future pandemics of influenza are inevitable. One of the lessons learned from past pandemics is that all pandemic influenza viruses characterized to date possess viral genes originating from avian influenza viruses (AIVs). During the past decades, a wide range of AIVs have overcome the species barrier and infected humans with different clinical manifestations ranging from mild illness to severe disease and even death. Understanding the mechanisms of infection in the context of clinical outcomes, the mechanism of interspecies transmission, and the molecular determinants that confer interspecies transmission is important for pandemic preparedness. Here, we summarize the epidemiology, virology, and pathogenicity of human infections with AIVs to further our understanding of interspecies transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayan Wang
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 102206, P.R. China
| | - Wenfei Zhu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 102206, P.R. China
| | - Lei Yang
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 102206, P.R. China
| | - Yuelong Shu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 102206, P.R. China.,School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong 510275, P.R. China
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15
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Lin W, Cui H, Teng Q, Li L, Shi Y, Li X, Yang J, Liu Q, Deng J, Li Z. Evolution and pathogenicity of H6 avian influenza viruses isolated from Southern China during 2011 to 2017 in mice and chickens. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20583. [PMID: 33239647 PMCID: PMC7689535 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76541-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
H6 subtype avian influenza viruses spread widely in birds and pose potential threats to poultry and mammals, even to human beings. In this study, the evolution and pathogenicity of H6 AIVs isolated in live poultry markets from 2011 to 2017 were investigated. These H6 isolates were reassortant with other subtypes of influenza virus with increasing genomic diversity. However, no predominant genotype was found during this period. All of the H6N2 and most of the H6N6 isolates replicated efficiently in lungs of inoculated mice without prior adaptation. All of the H6N2 and two H6N6 isolates replicated efficiently in nasal turbinates of inoculated mice, which suggested the H6N2 viruses were more adaptive to the upper respiratory tract of mice than the H6N6 viruses. One of H6N2 virus caused systemic infection in one out of three inoculated mice, which indicated that H6 avian influenza virus, especially the H6N2 viruses posed a potential threat to mammals. Five H6 strains selected from different genotypes caused no clinical signs to inoculated chickens, and their replication were limited in chickens since the viruses have been detected only from a few tissues or swabs at low titers. Our study strongly suggests that the H6 avian influenza virus isolated from live poultry markets pose potential threat to mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weishan Lin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongrui Cui
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaoyang Teng
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Luzhao Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Shi
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuesong Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianmei Yang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinfang Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Junliang Deng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Zejun Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Everest H, Hill SC, Daines R, Sealy JE, James J, Hansen R, Iqbal M. The Evolution, Spread and Global Threat of H6Nx Avian Influenza Viruses. Viruses 2020; 12:v12060673. [PMID: 32580412 PMCID: PMC7354632 DOI: 10.3390/v12060673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza viruses of the subtype H6Nx are being detected globally with increasing frequency. Some H6Nx lineages are becoming enzootic in Asian poultry and sporadic incursions into European poultry are occurring more frequently. H6Nx viruses that contain mammalian adaptation motifs pose a zoonotic threat and have caused human cases. Although currently understudied globally, H6Nx avian influenza viruses pose a substantial threat to both poultry and human health. In this review we examine the current state of knowledge of H6Nx viruses including their global distribution, tropism, transmission routes and human health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Everest
- The Pirbright Institute, Woking GU24 0NF, UK
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Sarah C Hill
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SZ UK
- Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Rebecca Daines
- The Pirbright Institute, Woking GU24 0NF, UK
- Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | | | - Joe James
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Rowena Hansen
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Munir Iqbal
- The Pirbright Institute, Woking GU24 0NF, UK
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17
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Guan L, Shi J, Kong X, Ma S, Zhang Y, Yin X, He X, Liu L, Suzuki Y, Li C, Deng G, Chen H. H3N2 avian influenza viruses detected in live poultry markets in China bind to human-type receptors and transmit in guinea pigs and ferrets. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 8:1280-1290. [PMID: 31495283 PMCID: PMC6746299 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1660590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The H3N2 influenza viruses became widespread in humans during the 1968 H3N2 pandemic and have been a major cause of influenza epidemics ever since. Different lineages of H3N2 influenza viruses are also commonly found in animals. If a different lineage of H3N2 virus jumps to humans, a human influenza pandemic could occur with devastating consequences. Here, we studied the genetics, receptor-binding properties, and replication and transmission in mammals of 15 H3N2 avian influenza viruses detected in live poultry markets in China. We found that the H3N2 avian influenza viruses are complicated reassortants with distinct replication phenotypes in mice. Five viruses replicated efficiently in mice and bound to both human-type and avian-type receptors. These viruses transmitted efficiently to direct-contact guinea pigs, and three of them also transmitted among guinea pigs and ferrets via respiratory droplets. Moreover, ferret antiserum induced by human H3N2 viruses did not react with any of the H3N2 avian influenza viruses. Our study demonstrates that the H3N2 avian influenza viruses pose a clear threat to human health and emphasizes the need for continued surveillance and evaluation of the H3N2 influenza viruses circulating in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizheng Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
| | - Jianzhong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
| | - Xingtian Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
| | - Shujie Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
| | - Yaping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
| | - Xijun He
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
| | - Liling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
| | - Yasuo Suzuki
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University , Aichi , Japan
| | - Chengjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
| | - Guohua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
| | - Hualan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS , Harbin , People's Republic of China
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18
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Abolnik C, Strydom C, Rauff DL, Wandrag DBR, Petty D. Continuing evolution of H6N2 influenza a virus in South African chickens and the implications for diagnosis and control. BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:455. [PMID: 31852473 PMCID: PMC6921544 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-2210-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The threat of poultry-origin H6 avian influenza viruses to human health emphasizes the importance of monitoring their evolution. South Africa’s H6N2 epidemic in chickens began in 2001 and two co-circulating antigenic sub-lineages of H6N2 could be distinguished from the outset. The true incidence and prevalence of H6N2 in the country has been difficult to determine, partly due to the continued use of an inactivated whole virus H6N2 vaccine and the inability to distinguish vaccinated from non-vaccinated birds on serology tests. In the present study, the complete genomes of 12 H6N2 viruses isolated from various farming systems between September 2015 and February 2019 in three major chicken-producing regions were analysed and a serological experiment was used to demonstrate the effects of antigenic mismatch in diagnostic tests. Results Genetic drift in H6N2 continued and antigenic diversity in sub-lineage I is increasing; no sub-lineage II viruses were detected. Reassortment patterns indicated epidemiological connections between provinces as well as different farming systems, but there was no reassortment with wild bird or ostrich influenza viruses. The sequence mismatch between the official antigens used for routine hemagglutination inhibition (HI) testing and circulating field strains has increased steadily, and we demonstrated that H6N2 field infections are likely to be missed. More concerning, sub-lineage I H6N2 viruses acquired three of the nine HA mutations associated with human receptor-binding preference (A13S, V187D and A193N) since 2002. Most sub-lineage I viruses isolated since 2015 acquired the K702R mutation in PB2 associated with the ability to infect humans, whereas prior to 2015 most viruses in sub-lineages I and II contained the avian lysine marker. All strains had an unusual HA0 motif of PQVETRGIF or PQVGTRGIF. Conclusions The H6N2 viruses in South African chickens are mutating and reassorting amongst themselves but have remained a genetically pure lineage since they emerged more than 18 years ago. Greater efforts must be made by government and industry in the continuous isolation and characterization of field strains for use as HI antigens, new vaccine seed strains and to monitor the zoonotic threat of H6N2 viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Abolnik
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Old Soutpan Road, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
| | - Christine Strydom
- Deltamune (Pty) Ltd, 248 Jean Avenue, Lyttleton, Centurion, 0140, South Africa
| | - Dionne Linda Rauff
- Deltamune (Pty) Ltd, 248 Jean Avenue, Lyttleton, Centurion, 0140, South Africa
| | - Daniel Barend Rudolph Wandrag
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Old Soutpan Road, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
| | - Deryn Petty
- The Poultry Practice, PO Box 5615, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, 6065, South Africa
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19
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Inventory of molecular markers affecting biological characteristics of avian influenza A viruses. Virus Genes 2019; 55:739-768. [PMID: 31428925 PMCID: PMC6831541 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-019-01700-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) circulate globally, spilling over into domestic poultry and causing zoonotic infections in humans. Fortunately, AIVs are not yet capable of causing sustained human-to-human infection; however, AIVs are still a high risk as future pandemic strains, especially if they acquire further mutations that facilitate human infection and/or increase pathogenesis. Molecular characterization of sequencing data for known genetic markers associated with AIV adaptation, transmission, and antiviral resistance allows for fast, efficient assessment of AIV risk. Here we summarize and update the current knowledge on experimentally verified molecular markers involved in AIV pathogenicity, receptor binding, replicative capacity, and transmission in both poultry and mammals with a broad focus to include data available on other AIV subtypes outside of A/H5N1 and A/H7N9.
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20
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Li J, Quan C, Xie Y, Ke C, Nie Y, Chen Q, Hu T, Chen J, Wong G, Wang Q, Feng L, Yu H, Liu Y, Liu W, Gao GF, Liu WJ, Shi W, Bi Y. Continued reassortment of avian H6 influenza viruses from Southern China, 2014-2016. Transbound Emerg Dis 2018; 66:592-598. [PMID: 30300968 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 09/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
H6 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) was prevalent in poultry and could sporadically infect humans. Here, a total of 196 novel H6 AIVs isolated from poultry in eight provinces of China from 2014 to 2016 were phylogenetically characterized. Our analysis revealed that they could be divided into two clades in the Asian H6 HA lineage, A/wild duck/Shantou/2853/2003(H6N2) (ST2853-like) (85.7%) and A/duck/Shantou/339/2000(H6N2) (ST339-like) (14.3%), in which ST2853-like strains predominate. These novel strains belonged to the H6N6 (n = 165, 84.2%), H6N2 (n = 30, 15.3%), and H6N3 (n = 1, 0.51%) subtypes, which could be classified into 36 genotypes including 12 novel genotypes described in this study. In particular, several strains possessed the V190 and S228 mutations in HA (H3 numbering), which is critical for human receptor binding and identical to the human-derived strain A/Taiwan/2/2013(H6N1). Furthermore, 10.3% of the H6N6 isolates possessed the N6-∆11b (59-69) deletion. In summary, we describe phylogenetic and molecular characterizations of H6 AIVs in southern China and highlight the constant prevalence of H6 AIVs in poultry as well as adaptation to mammalian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Shandong Universities, Taishan Medical College, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Chuansong Quan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Xie
- Jiangxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, China
| | - Changwen Ke
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yifei Nie
- Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Quanjiao Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei, China
| | - Tao Hu
- Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Shandong Universities, Taishan Medical College, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei, China
| | - Gary Wong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Second Hospital Affiliated to Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.,Département de microbiologie-infectiologie et d'immunologie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Qianli Wang
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Luzhao Feng
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Hongjie Yu
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yingxia Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Second Hospital Affiliated to Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenjun Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - George F Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Second Hospital Affiliated to Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - William J Liu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Weifeng Shi
- Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Shandong Universities, Taishan Medical College, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Yuhai Bi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Second Hospital Affiliated to Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
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21
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Molecular Markers for Interspecies Transmission of Avian Influenza Viruses in Mammalian Hosts. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18122706. [PMID: 29236050 PMCID: PMC5751307 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18122706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, a wide range of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have infected various mammalian hosts and continuously threaten both human and animal health. It is a result of overcoming the inter-species barrier which is mostly associated with gene reassortment and accumulation of mutations in their gene segments. Several recent studies have shed insights into the phenotypic and genetic changes that are involved in the interspecies transmission of AIVs. These studies have a major focus on transmission from avian to mammalian species due to the high zoonotic potential of the viruses. As more mammalian species have been infected with these viruses, there is higher risk of genetic evolution of these viruses that may lead to the next human pandemic which represents and raises public health concern. Thus, understanding the mechanism of interspecies transmission and molecular determinants through which the emerging AIVs can acquire the ability to transmit to humans and other mammals is an important key in evaluating the potential risk caused by AIVs among humans. Here, we summarize previous and recent studies on molecular markers that are specifically involved in the transmission of avian-derived influenza viruses to various mammalian hosts including humans, pigs, horses, dogs, and marine mammals.
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22
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Combating flu in China. Microbes Infect 2017; 19:567-569. [PMID: 28993229 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2017.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
China is a major source of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) with bird-to-human transmissibility. Thus, understanding these viruses and treating infections at their source should decrease spread of AIVs to other countries in the world. This special issue focuses on the molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of influenza viruses, and provides results on current efforts to develop vaccines against AIVs.
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