scholarly journals Airborne Transmission of Avian Origin H9N2 Influenza A Viruses in Mammals

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1919
Author(s):  
C. Joaquín Cáceres ◽  
Daniela S. Rajao ◽  
Daniel R. Perez
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Human Influenza ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
The World ◽  
Avian Origin

Influenza A viruses (IAV) are widespread viruses affecting avian and mammalian species worldwide. IAVs from avian species can be transmitted to mammals including humans and, thus, they are of inherent pandemic concern. Most of the efforts to understand the pathogenicity and transmission of avian origin IAVs have been focused on H5 and H7 subtypes due to their highly pathogenic phenotype in poultry. However, IAV of the H9 subtype, which circulate endemically in poultry flocks in some regions of the world, have also been associated with cases of zoonotic infections. In this review, we discuss the mammalian transmission of H9N2 and the molecular factors that are thought relevant for this spillover, focusing on the HA segment. Additionally, we discuss factors that have been associated with the ability of these viruses to transmit through the respiratory route in mammalian species. The summarized information shows that minimal amino acid changes in the HA and/or the combination of H9N2 surface genes with internal genes of human influenza viruses are enough for the generation of H9N2 viruses with the ability to transmit via aerosol.

scholarly journals Airborne Transmission of Avian Origin H9N2 Influenza A Viruses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Joaquín Cáceres ◽  
Daniela S. Rajao ◽  
Daniel R. Perez
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
World Health ◽  
Interspecies Transmission ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
The World ◽  
Avian Origin ◽  
Health Organization

Influenza A viruses (IAV) are widespread viruses affecting avian and mammalian species worldwide. Outbreaks of IAV in poultry are usually associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, significantly affecting the poultry industry and food security. IAVs from avian species can be transmitted to mammals including humans and, thus, they are of inherent pandemic concern. Most of the efforts to understand the pathogenicity and transmission of avian origin IAVs have been focused on H5 and H7 subtypes due to their highly pathogenic phenotype in poultry. However, IAV of the H9 subtype that circulate endemically in poultry flocks in some regions of the world have also been associated with cases of zoonotic infections. As a result, the World Health Organization includes avian origin H9N2 IAV among the top in the list of IAVs of pandemic concern. In this review, we discuss the interspecies transmission of H9N2 between avian and mammalian species and the molecular factors that are thought relevant for this spillover. Additionally, we discuss factors that have been associated with the ability of these viruses to transmit through the respiratory route in mammalian species.

scholarly journals Plasticity of the Influenza Virus H5 HA Protein

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huihui Kong ◽  
David F. Burke ◽  
Tiago Jose da Silva Lopes ◽  
Kosuke Takada ◽  
Masaki Imai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Viral Antigen ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
Antigenic Properties ◽  
Ha Protein

ABSTRACT Since the emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the H5 subtype, the major viral antigen, hemagglutinin (HA), has undergone constant evolution, resulting in numerous genetic and antigenic (sub)clades. To explore the consequences of amino acid changes at sites that may affect the antigenicity of H5 viruses, we simultaneously mutated 17 amino acid positions of an H5 HA by using a synthetic gene library that, theoretically, encodes all combinations of the 20 amino acids at the 17 positions. All 251 mutant viruses sequenced possessed ≥13 amino acid substitutions in HA, demonstrating that the targeted sites can accommodate a substantial number of mutations. Selection with ferret sera raised against H5 viruses of different clades resulted in the isolation of 39 genotypes. Further analysis of seven variants demonstrated that they were antigenically different from the parental virus and replicated efficiently in mammalian cells. Our data demonstrate the substantial plasticity of the influenza virus H5 HA protein, which may lead to novel antigenic variants. IMPORTANCE The HA protein of influenza A viruses is the major viral antigen. In this study, we simultaneously introduced mutations at 17 amino acid positions of an H5 HA expected to affect antigenicity. Viruses with ≥13 amino acid changes in HA were viable, and some had altered antigenic properties. H5 HA can therefore accommodate many mutations in regions that affect antigenicity. The substantial plasticity of H5 HA may facilitate the emergence of novel antigenic variants.

scholarly journals Origins and Evolutionary Dynamics of H3N2 Canine Influenza Virus

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 5406-5418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henan Zhu ◽  
Joseph Hughes ◽  
Pablo R. Murcia
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
North American ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Canine Influenza Virus ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Avian Origin ◽  
Canine Influenza

ABSTRACTInfluenza A viruses (IAVs) are maintained mainly in wild birds, and despite frequent spillover infections of avian IAVs into mammals, only a small number of viruses have become established in mammalian hosts. A new H3N2 canine influenza virus (CIV) of avian origin emerged in Asia in the mid-2000s and is now circulating in dog populations of China and South Korea, and possibly in Thailand. The emergence of CIV provides new opportunities for zoonotic infections and interspecies transmission. We examined 14,764 complete IAV genomes together with all CIV genomes publicly available since its first isolation until 2013. We show that CIV may have originated as early as 1999 as a result of segment reassortment among Eurasian and North American avian IAV lineages. We also identified amino acid changes that might have played a role in CIV emergence, some of which have not been previously identified in other cross-species jumps. CIV evolves at a lower rate than H3N2 human influenza viruses do, and viral phylogenies exhibit geographical structure compatible with high levels of local transmission. We detected multiple intrasubtypic and heterosubtypic reassortment events, including the acquisition of the NS segment of an H5N1 avian influenza virus that had previously been overlooked. In sum, our results provide insight into the adaptive changes required by avian viruses to establish themselves in mammals and also highlight the potential role of dogs to act as intermediate hosts in which viruses with zoonotic and/or pandemic potential could originate, particularly with an estimated dog population of ∼700 million.IMPORTANCEInfluenza A viruses circulate in humans and animals. This multihost ecology has important implications, as past pandemics were caused by IAVs carrying gene segments of both human and animal origin. Adaptive evolution is central to cross-species jumps, and this is why understanding the evolutionary processes that shape influenza A virus genomes is key to elucidating the mechanisms underpinning viral emergence. An avian-origin canine influenza virus (CIV) has recently emerged in dogs and is spreading in Asia. We reconstructed the evolutionary history of CIV and show that it originated from both Eurasian and North American avian lineages. We also identified the mutations that might have been responsible for the cross-species jump. Finally, we provide evidence of multiple reassortment events between CIV and other influenza viruses (including an H5N1 avian virus). This is a cause for concern, as there is a large global dog population to which humans are highly exposed.

A Pandemic Avian Influenza Mathematical Model

2009 ◽  
pp. 798-808
Author(s):  
Mohamed Derouich
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Stability Analysis ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Human Influenza ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
The World ◽  
Pandemic Avian Influenza

Throughout the world, seasonal outbreaks of influenza affect millions of people, killing about 500,000 individuals every year. Human influenza viruses are classified into 3 serotypes: A, B, and C. Only influenza A viruses can infect and multiply in avian species. During the last decades, important avian influenza epidemics have occurred and so far, the epidemics among birds have been transmitted to humans; but the most feared problem is the risk of pandemics that may be caused by person-to person transmission. The present mathematical model deals with the dynamics of human infection by avian influenza both in birds and in humans. Stability analysis is carried out and the behaviour of the disease is illustrated by simulation with different parameters values.

scholarly journals An Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H7N7) in Australia and the Potential for Novel Influenza A Viruses to Emerge

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1639
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Bisset ◽  
Gerard F. Hoyne
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Human Influenza ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Influenza A

In 2020, several geographically isolated farms in Victoria, Australia, experienced an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus H7N7 and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses H5N2 and H7N6. Effective containment and control measures ensured the eradication of these viruses but the event culminated in substantial loss of livestock and significant economic impact. The avian HPAI H7N7 virus generally does not infect humans; however, evidence shows the ocular pathway presents a favourable tissue tropism for human infection. Through antigenic drift, mutations in the H7N7 viral genome may increase virulence and pathogenicity in humans. The Victorian outbreak also detected LPAI H7N6 in emus at a commercial farm. Novel influenza A viruses can emerge by mixing different viral strains in a host susceptible to avian and human influenza strains. Studies show that emus are susceptible to infections from a wide range of influenza viral subtypes, including H5N1 and the pandemic H1N1. The emu’s internal organs and tissues express abundant cell surface sialic acid receptors that favour the attachment of avian and human influenza viruses, increasing the potential for internal genetic reassortment and the emergence of novel influenza A viruses. This review summarises the historical context of H7N7 in Australia, considers the potential for increased virulence and pathogenesis through mutations and draws attention to the emu as potentially an unrecognised viral mixing vessel.

scholarly journals N-Glycolylneuraminic Acid in Animal Models for Human Influenza A Virus

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 815
Author(s):  
Cindy M. Spruit ◽  
Nikoloz Nemanichvili ◽  
Masatoshi Okamatsu ◽  
Hiromu Takematsu ◽  
Geert-Jan Boons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sialic Acid ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Virus Infection ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Human Influenza ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Sialic Acid Content ◽  
Acetylneuraminic Acid

The first step in influenza virus infection is the binding of hemagglutinin to sialic acid-containing glycans present on the cell surface. Over 50 different sialic acid modifications are known, of which N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) are the two main species. Animal models with α2,6 linked Neu5Ac in the upper respiratory tract, similar to humans, are preferred to enable and mimic infection with unadapted human influenza A viruses. Animal models that are currently most often used to study human influenza are mice and ferrets. Additionally, guinea pigs, cotton rats, Syrian hamsters, tree shrews, domestic swine, and non-human primates (macaques and marmosets) are discussed. The presence of NeuGc and the distribution of sialic acid linkages in the most commonly used models is summarized and experimentally determined. We also evaluated the role of Neu5Gc in infection using Neu5Gc binding viruses and cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH)-/- knockout mice, which lack Neu5Gc and concluded that Neu5Gc is unlikely to be a decoy receptor. This article provides a base for choosing an appropriate animal model. Although mice are one of the most favored models, they are hardly naturally susceptible to infection with human influenza viruses, possibly because they express mainly α2,3 linked sialic acids with both Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc modifications. We suggest using ferrets, which resemble humans closely in the sialic acid content, both in the linkages and the lack of Neu5Gc, lung organization, susceptibility, and disease pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Improving pandemic influenza risk assessment

eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin A Russell ◽  
Peter M Kasson ◽  
Ruben O Donis ◽  
Steven Riley ◽  
John Dunbar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Pandemic Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Virus Genome ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Human Influenza ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Virus Genotype

Assessing the pandemic risk posed by specific non-human influenza A viruses is an important goal in public health research. As influenza virus genome sequencing becomes cheaper, faster, and more readily available, the ability to predict pandemic potential from sequence data could transform pandemic influenza risk assessment capabilities. However, the complexities of the relationships between virus genotype and phenotype make such predictions extremely difficult. The integration of experimental work, computational tool development, and analysis of evolutionary pathways, together with refinements to influenza surveillance, has the potential to transform our ability to assess the risks posed to humans by non-human influenza viruses and lead to improved pandemic preparedness and response.

scholarly journals Evolution and Adaptation of the Avian H7N9 Virus into the Human Host

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 778
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Bisset ◽  
Gerard F. Hoyne
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Viral Polymerase ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Avian Origin

Influenza viruses arise from animal reservoirs, and have the potential to cause pandemics. In 2013, low pathogenic novel avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses emerged in China, resulting from the reassortment of avian-origin viruses. Following evolutionary changes, highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses emerged in late 2016. Changes in pathogenicity and virulence of H7N9 viruses have been linked to potential mutations in the viral glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), as well as the viral polymerase basic protein 2 (PB2). Recognizing that effective viral transmission of the influenza A virus (IAV) between humans requires efficient attachment to the upper respiratory tract and replication through the viral polymerase complex, experimental evidence demonstrates the potential H7N9 has for increased binding affinity and replication, following specific amino acid substitutions in HA and PB2. Additionally, the deletion of extended amino acid sequences in the NA stalk length was shown to produce a significant increase in pathogenicity in mice. Research shows that significant changes in transmissibility, pathogenicity and virulence are possible after one or a few amino acid substitutions. This review aims to summarise key findings from that research. To date, all strains of H7N9 viruses remain restricted to avian reservoirs, with no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission, although mutations in specific viral proteins reveal the efficacy with which these viruses could evolve into a highly virulent and infectious, human-to-human transmitted virus.

scholarly journals Chicken Interferon-Inducible Transmembrane Protein 3 Restricts Influenza Viruses and LyssavirusesIn Vitro

2013 ◽  
Vol 87 (23) ◽  
pp. 12957-12966 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Smith ◽  
M. S. Gibson ◽  
R. S. Wash ◽  
F. Ferrara ◽  
E. Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Transmembrane Protein ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Amino Acid Level ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Bursa Of Fabricius ◽  
Intrinsic Resistance ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Cecal Tonsil

Interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) is an effector protein of the innate immune system. It confers potent, cell-intrinsic resistance to infection by diverse enveloped viruses bothin vitroandin vivo, including influenza viruses, West Nile virus, and dengue virus. IFITM3 prevents cytosolic entry of these viruses by blocking complete virus envelope fusion with cell endosome membranes. Although the IFITM locus, which includesIFITM1, -2, -3, and -5, is present in mammalian species, this locus has not been unambiguously identified or functionally characterized in avian species. Here, we show that the IFITM locus exists in chickens and is syntenic with the IFITM locus in mammals. The chicken IFITM3 protein restricts cell infection by influenza A viruses and lyssaviruses to a similar level as its human orthologue. Furthermore, we show that chicken IFITM3 is functional in chicken cells and that knockdown of constitutive expression in chicken fibroblasts results in enhanced infection by influenza A virus. ChickenIFITM2and -3are constitutively expressed in all tissues examined, whereasIFITM1is only expressed in the bursa of Fabricius, gastrointestinal tract, cecal tonsil, and trachea. Despite being highly divergent at the amino acid level, IFITM3 proteins of birds and mammals can restrict replication of viruses that are able to infect different host species, suggesting IFITM proteins may provide a crucial barrier for zoonotic infections.

scholarly journals International Laboratory Comparison of Influenza Microneutralization Assays for A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and A(H5N1) Influenza Viruses by CONSISE

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 957-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Laurie ◽  
Othmar G. Engelhardt ◽  
John Wood ◽  
Alan Heath ◽  
Jacqueline M. Katz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Incubation Time ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
H5n1 Influenza ◽  
The World ◽  
International Laboratory ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTThe microneutralization assay is commonly used to detect antibodies to influenza virus, and multiple protocols are used worldwide. These protocols differ in the incubation time of the assay as well as in the order of specific steps, and even within protocols there are often further adjustments in individual laboratories. The impact these protocol variations have on influenza serology data is unclear. Thus, a laboratory comparison of the 2-day enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 3-day hemagglutination (HA) microneutralization (MN) protocols, using A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and A(H5N1) viruses, was performed by the CONSISE Laboratory Working Group. Individual laboratories performed both assay protocols, on multiple occasions, using different serum panels. Thirteen laboratories from around the world participated. Within each laboratory, serum sample titers for the different assay protocols were compared between assays to determine the sensitivity of each assay and were compared between replicates to assess the reproducibility of each protocol for each laboratory. There was good correlation of the results obtained using the two assay protocols in most laboratories, indicating that these assays may be interchangeable for detecting antibodies to the influenza A viruses included in this study. Importantly, participating laboratories have aligned their methodologies to the CONSISE consensus 2-day ELISA and 3-day HA MN assay protocols to enable better correlation of these assays in the future.

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