scholarly journals The Effects of Genetic Variation on H7N9 Avian Influenza Virus Pathogenicity

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1220
Author(s):  
Szu-Wei Huang ◽  
Sheng-Fan Wang

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.

2006 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. MASE ◽  
M. ETO ◽  
K. IMAI ◽  
K. TSUKAMOTO ◽  
S. YAMAGUCHI

We characterized eleven H9N2 influenza A viruses isolated from chicken products imported from China. Genetically they were classified into six distinct genotypes, including five already known genotypes and one novel genotype. This suggested that such multiple genotypes of the H9N2 virus have possibly already become widespread and endemic in China. Two isolates have amino-acid substitutions that confer resistance to amantadine in the M2 region, and this supported the evidence that this mutation might be a result of the wide application of amantadine for avian influenza treatment in China. These findings emphasize the importance of surveillance for avian influenza virus in this region, and of quarantining imported chicken products as potential sources for the introduction of influenza virus.


Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seon-Ju Yeo ◽  
Duc-Duong Than ◽  
Hong-Seog Park ◽  
Haan Woo Sung ◽  
Hyun Park

A novel avian influenza virus (A/wild duck/Korea/K102/2018) (H2N9) was isolated from wild birds in South Korea in 2018, and phylogenetic and molecular analyses were conducted on complete gene sequences obtained by next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the A/wild duck/Korea/K102/2018 (H2N9) virus belonged to the Eurasian countries, whereas other internal genes (polymerase basic protein 1 (PB1), PB2, nucleoprotein (NP), polymerase acidic protein (PA), matrix protein (M), and non-structural protein (NS)) belonged to the East Asian countries. A monobasic amino acid (PQIEPR/GLF) at the HA cleavage site, E627 in the PB2 gene, and no deletion of the stalk region in the NA gene indicated that the A/wild duck/Korea/K102/2018 (H2N9) isolate was a typical low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI). Nucleotide sequence similarity analysis of HA revealed that the highest homology (98.34%) is to that of A/duck/Mongolia/482/2015 (H2N3), and amino acid sequence of NA was closely related to that of A/duck/Bangladesh/8987/2010 (H10N9) (96.45%). In contrast, internal genes showed homology higher than 98% compared to those of other isolates derived from duck and wild birds of China or Japan in 2016–2018. The newly isolated A/wild duck/Korea/K102/2018 (H2N9) strain is the first reported avian influenza virus in Korea, and may have evolved from multiple genotypes in wild birds and ducks in Mongolia, China, and Japan.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 203
Author(s):  
Hien Thi Tuong ◽  
Ngoc Minh Nguyen ◽  
Haan Woo Sung ◽  
Hyun Park ◽  
Seon-Ju Yeo

In July 2018, a novel avian influenza virus (A/Mandarin duck/South Korea/KNU18-12/2018(H11N9)) was isolated from Mandarin ducks in South Korea. Phylogenetic and molecular analyses were conducted to characterize the genetic origins of the H11N9 strain. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that eight gene segments of strain H11N9 belonged to the Eurasian lineages. Analysis of nucleotide sequence similarity of both the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes revealed the highest homology with A/duck/Kagoshima/KU57/2014 (H11N9), showing 97.70% and 98.00% nucleotide identities, respectively. Additionally, internal genes showed homology higher than 98% compared to those of other isolates derived from duck and wild birds. Both the polymerase acidic (PA) and polymerase basic 1 (PB1) genes were close to the H5N3 strain isolated in China; whereas, other internal genes were closely related to that of avian influenza virus in Japan. A single basic amino acid at the HA cleavage site (PAIASR↓GLF), the lack of a five-amino acid deletion (residue 69–73) in the stalk region of the NA gene, and E627 in the polymerase basic 2 (PB2) gene indicated that the A/Mandarin duck/South Korea/KNU18-12/2018(H11N9) isolate was a typical low-pathogenicity avian influenza. In vitro viral replication of H11N9 showed a lower titer than H1N1 and higher than H9N2. In mice, H11N9 showed lower adaptation than H1N1. The novel A/Mandarin duck/South Korea/KNU18-12/2018(H11N9) isolate may have resulted from an unknown reassortment through the import of multiple wild birds in Japan and Korea in approximately 2016–2017, evolving to produce a different H11N9 compared to the previous H11N9 in Korea (2016). Further reassortment events of this virus occurred in PB1 and PA in China-derived strains. These results indicate that Japanese- and Chinese-derived avian influenza contributes to the genetic diversity of A/Mandarin duck/South Korea/KNU18-12/2018(H11N9) in Korea.


2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham A. D. Blyth ◽  
Wing Fuk Chan ◽  
Robert G. Webster ◽  
Katharine E. Magor

ABSTRACTInterferon-inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) can restrict the entry of a wide range of viruses. IFITM3 localizes to endosomes and can potently restrict the replication of influenza A viruses (IAV) and several other viruses that also enter host cells through the endocytic pathway. Here, we investigate whether IFITMs are involved in protection in ducks, the natural host of influenza virus. We identify and sequence duckIFITM1,IFITM2,IFITM3, andIFITM5. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), we demonstrate the upregulation of these genes in lung tissue in response to highly pathogenic IAV infection by 400-fold, 30-fold, 30-fold, and 5-fold, respectively. We express each IFITM in chicken DF-1 cells and show duck IFITM1 localizes to the cell surface, while IFITM3 localizes to LAMP1-containing compartments. DF-1 cells stably expressing duck IFITM3 (but not IFITM1 or IFITM2) show increased restriction of replication of H1N1, H6N2, and H11N9 IAV strains but not vesicular stomatitis virus. Although duck and human IFITM3 share only 38% identity, critical residues for viral restriction are conserved. We generate chimeric and mutant IFITM3 proteins and show duck IFITM3 does not require its N-terminal domain for endosomal localization or antiviral function; however, this N-terminal end confers endosomal localization and antiviral function on IFITM1. In contrast to mammalian IFITM3, the conserved YXXθ endocytosis signal sequence in the N-terminal domain of duck IFITM3 is not essential for correct endosomal localization. Despite significant structural and amino acid divergence, presumably due to host-virus coevolution, duck IFITM3 is functional against IAV.IMPORTANCEImmune IFITM genes are poorly conserved across species, suggesting that selective pressure from host-specific viruses has driven this divergence. We wondered whether coevolution between viruses and their natural host would result in the evasion of IFITM restriction. Ducks are the natural host of avian influenza A viruses and display few or no disease symptoms upon infection with most strains, including highly pathogenic avian influenza. We have characterized the duck IFITM locus and identified IFITM3 as an important restrictor of several influenza A viruses, including avian strains. With only 38% amino acid identity to human IFITM3, duck IFITM3 possesses antiviral function against influenza virus. Thus, despite long coevolution of virus and host effectors in the natural host, influenza virus evasion of IFITM3 restriction in ducks is not apparent.


2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (19) ◽  
pp. 9978-9986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Moncorgé ◽  
Manuela Mura ◽  
Wendy S. Barclay

ABSTRACT Typical avian influenza A viruses do not replicate efficiently in humans. The molecular basis of host range restriction and adaptation of avian influenza A viruses to a new host species is still not completely understood. Genetic determinants of host range adaptation have been found on the polymerase complex (PB1, PB2, and PA) as well as on the nucleoprotein (NP). These four viral proteins constitute the minimal set for transcription and replication of influenza viral RNA. It is widely documented that in human cells, avian-derived influenza A viral polymerase is poorly active, but despite extensive study, the reason for this blockade is not known. We monitored the activity of influenza A viral polymerases in heterokaryons formed between avian (DF1) and human (293T) cells. We have discovered that a positive factor present in avian cells enhances the activity of the avian influenza virus polymerase. We found no evidence for the existence of an inhibitory factor for avian virus polymerase in human cells, and we suggest, instead, that the restriction of avian influenza virus polymerases in human cells is the consequence of the absence or the low expression of a compatible positive cofactor. Finally, our results strongly suggest that the well-known adaptative mutation E627K on viral protein PB2 facilitates the ability of a human positive factor to enhance replication of influenza virus in human cells.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liu Lina ◽  
Chen Saijuan ◽  
Wang Chengyu ◽  
Lu Yuefeng ◽  
Dong Shishan ◽  
...  

AbstractH9N2 is the most prevalent low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) in domestic poultry in the world. Two distinct H9N2 poultry lineages, G1-like (A/quail/Hong Kong/G1/97) and Y280-like (A/Duck/Hong Kong/Y280/1997) viruses, are usually associated with binding affinity for both α 2,3 and α 2,6 sialic acid receptors (avian and human receptors), raising concern whether these viruses possess pandemic potential. To explore the impact of mouse adaptation on the transmissibility of a Y280-like virus A/Chicken/Hubei/214/2017(H9N2) (abbreviated as WT), we performed serial lung-to-lung passages of the WT virus in mice. The mouse-adapted variant (MA) exhibited enhanced pathogenicity and advantaged transmissibility after passaging in mice. Sequence analysis of the complete genomes of the MA virus revealed a total of 16 amino acid substitutions. These mutations distributed across 7 segments including PB2, PB1, PA, NP, HA, NA and NS1 genes. Furthermore, we generated a panel of recombinant or mutant H9N2 viruses using reverse genetics technology and confirmed that the PB2 gene governing the increased pathogenicity and transmissibility. The combinations of 340 K and 588 V in PB2 were important in determining the altered features. Our findings elucidate the specific mutations in PB2 contribute to the phenotype differences and emphasize the importance of monitoring the identified amino acid substitutions due to their potential threat to human health.


mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartram L. Smith ◽  
Guifang Chen ◽  
Claus O. Wilke ◽  
Robert M. Krug

ABSTRACTInfluenza A viruses cause an annual contagious respiratory disease in humans and are responsible for periodic high-mortality human pandemics. Pandemic influenza A viruses usually result from the reassortment of gene segments between human and avian influenza viruses. These avian influenza virus gene segments need to adapt to humans. Here we focus on the human adaptation of the synonymous codons of the avian influenza virus PB1 gene of the 1968 H3N2 pandemic virus. We generated recombinant H3N2 viruses differing only in codon usage of PB1 mRNA and demonstrated that codon usage of the PB1 mRNA of recent H3N2 virus isolates enhances replication in interferon (IFN)-treated human cells without affecting replication in untreated cells, thereby partially alleviating the interferon-induced antiviral state. High-throughput sequencing of tRNA pools explains the reduced inhibition of replication by interferon: the levels of some tRNAs differ between interferon-treated and untreated human cells, and evolution of the codon usage of H3N2 PB1 mRNA is skewed toward interferon-altered human tRNA pools. Consequently, the avian influenza virus-derived PB1 mRNAs of modern H3N2 viruses have acquired codon usages that better reflect tRNA availabilities in IFN-treated cells. Our results indicate that the change in tRNA availabilities resulting from interferon treatment is a previously unknown aspect of the antiviral action of interferon, which has been partially overcome by human-adapted H3N2 viruses.IMPORTANCEPandemic influenza A viruses that cause high human mortality usually result from reassortment of gene segments between human and avian influenza viruses. These avian influenza virus gene segments need to adapt to humans. Here we focus on the human adaptation of the avian influenza virus PB1 gene that was incorporated into the 1968 H3N2 pandemic virus. We demonstrate that the coding sequence of the PB1 mRNA of modern H3N2 viruses enhances replication in human cells in which interferon has activated a potent antiviral state. Reduced interferon inhibition results from evolution of PB1 mRNA codons skewed toward the pools of tRNAs in interferon-treated human cells, which, as shown here, differ significantly from the tRNA pools in untreated human cells. Consequently, avian influenza virus-derived PB1 mRNAs of modern H3N2 viruses have acquired codon usages that better reflect tRNA availabilities in IFN-treated cells and are translated more efficiently.


2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 2643-2646 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Liu ◽  
Y. Bi ◽  
K. Qin ◽  
G. Fu ◽  
J. Yang ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
Oliver Gittins ◽  
Llorenç Grau-Roma ◽  
Rosa Valle ◽  
Francesc Xavier Abad ◽  
Miquel Nofrarías ◽  
...  

AbstractTo evaluate how avian influenza virus (AIV) circulates among the avifauna of the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands, we surveyed 14 species of birds from Marion, Livingston and Gough islands. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was carried out on the sera of 147 birds. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the AIV genome from 113 oropharyngeal and 122 cloacal swabs from these birds. The overall seroprevalence to AIV infection was 4.8%, with the only positive results coming from brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica) (4 out of 18, 22%) and southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) (3 out of 24, 13%). Avian influenza virus antibodies were detected in birds sampled from Marion and Gough islands, with a higher seroprevalence on Marion Island (P = 0.014) and a risk ratio of 11.29 (95% confidence interval: 1.40–91.28) compared to Gough Island. The AIV genome was not detected in any of the birds sampled. These results confirm that AIV strains are uncommon among Antarctic and sub-Antarctic predatory seabirds, but they may suggest that scavenging seabirds are the main avian reservoirs and spreaders of this virus in the Southern Ocean. Further studies are necessary to determine the precise role of these species in the epidemiology of AIV.


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e4060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek D. Houston ◽  
Shahan Azeem ◽  
Coady W. Lundy ◽  
Yuko Sato ◽  
Baoqing Guo ◽  
...  

Background Avian influenza virus (AIV) infections occur naturally in wild bird populations and can cross the wildlife-domestic animal interface, often with devastating impacts on commercial poultry. Migratory waterfowl and shorebirds are natural AIV reservoirs and can carry the virus along migratory pathways, often without exhibiting clinical signs. However, these species rarely inhabit poultry farms, so transmission into domestic birds likely occurs through other means. In many cases, human activities are thought to spread the virus into domestic populations. Consequently, biosecurity measures have been implemented to limit human-facilitated outbreaks. The 2015 avian influenza outbreak in the United States, which occurred among poultry operations with strict biosecurity controls, suggests that alternative routes of virus infiltration may exist, including bridge hosts: wild animals that transfer virus from areas of high waterfowl and shorebird densities. Methods Here, we examined small, wild birds (songbirds, woodpeckers, etc.) and mammals in Iowa, one of the regions hit hardest by the 2015 avian influenza epizootic, to determine whether these animals carry AIV. To assess whether influenza A virus was present in other species in Iowa during our sampling period, we also present results from surveillance of waterfowl by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Unites Stated Department of Agriculture. Results Capturing animals at wetlands and near poultry facilities, we swabbed 449 individuals, internally and externally, for the presence of influenza A virus and no samples tested positive by qPCR. Similarly, serology from 402 animals showed no antibodies against influenza A. Although several species were captured at both wetland and poultry sites, the overall community structure of wild species differed significantly between these types of sites. In contrast, 83 out of 527 sampled waterfowl tested positive for influenza A via qPCR. Discussion These results suggest that even though influenza A viruses were present on the Iowa landscape at the time of our sampling, small, wild birds and rodents were unlikely to be frequent bridge hosts.


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