Characterization of a trypsin-dependent avian influenza H5N1-pseudotyped HIV vector system for high throughput screening of inhibitory molecules

In this study, we have generated and characterized an avian influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA) and M2 ion channel pseudotyped HIV-based vector system (HaNaM-pseudotyped HIV vector). The cleavage site of the HA protein was modified to necessitate trypsin-dependent maturation of the glycoprotein. HA, NA and M2 were efficiently incorporated in HIV vector particles which could transduce different cell lines in a trypsin-dependent manner. Results also showed that the presence of avian influenza M2 and NA proteins maximized both vector production and transduction and that transduction was highly sensitive to the specific NA inhibitor oseltamivir (Tamiflu). H5N1 HaNaM-pseudotyped HIV vector system was also adapted for cell-based high throughput screening of drug candidates against influenza virus infection, and its high sensitivity to the specific oseltamivir validates its potential utility in the identification of new influenza inhibitors. Overall, the trypsin-dependent H5N1-pseudotyped HIV vector can mimic avian influenza virus infection processes with sufficient precision to allow for the identification of new antivirals and to study avian influenza virus biology in a lower biosafety level laboratory environment.     

高致病性H7N9禽流感病毒研究进展

摘要：H7N9禽流感病毒在中国出现以来共造成5次流行。在第5次流行中出现了高致病性H7N9变异株,该病 毒株的HA链接肽位置发生了基因插入性突变,导致该病毒对家禽毒力的增强。同时在人感染H7N9禽流感病例中 也相继分离到了该病毒。因此,对高致病性H7N9禽流感病毒病原学及流行病学研究对于该疾病的预防和控制具有 重要意义。本文从高致病性H7N9禽流感病毒的变异来源、流行病学特征及防治措施等方面进行综述,为高致病性 H7N9禽流感的有效防治提供科学策略。     

某区甲型H1N1流感病毒分离鉴定及同源性的分析

目的检测并分离甲型H1N1流感病毒,对开封地区首次分离到的病毒株进行全基因组序列测定及同源性分析,为研究流感病毒的流行及变异规律提供科学依据。方法采用Real-time RT-PCR方法检测,筛选确定出甲型H1N1流感病毒阳性标本;利用狗肾传代细胞分离得到甲型H1N1流感病毒株A/Kaifeng/01/2009(H1N1);测定并分析其全基因组序列;利用序列比对进行了同源性分析。结果从1828份流感样病例中检出甲型H1N1流感病毒阳性标本286份,阳性率15.6%。在开封地区首次获得甲型H1N1流感病毒株及全基因组序列。基因组序列分析表明:该毒株与2009年大流行株高度同源,为同一进化分支。与以往流行的猪流感病毒株对比发现,HA基因有12个碱基发生了点突变。结论 MDCK细胞对甲型H1N1流感病毒具有较高敏感性;开封地区首例甲型H1N1流感病例分离病毒株与北美流行株高度同源;相对于以往古典型猪流感代表株出现了HA蛋白抗原性漂移;为今后进一步开展甲型H1N1流感病毒分子生物学研究奠定基础。     

贵州省A(H1N1)亚型流感病毒HA基因系列分析

目的:了解贵州省A(H1N1)流感病毒血凝素抗原的基因变异情况.方法:对贵州省分离的部分A(H1N1)流感病毒株利用聚合酶链反应进行扩增,将扩增产物进行序列测定,然后进行基因系列分析.结果:2001-2005年贵州省分离的A(H1N1)流感病毒株有以下位点发生变异:202G>R、203D>N、225R>K、268M>R...     

Treatment of influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in mice and ferrets with cyanovirin-N

Cyanovirin-N (CV-N), a protein derived from Nostoc ellipsosporum, neutralizes influenza virus infectivity by binding to specific high-mannose oligosaccharides (oligomannose-8 and -9) at glycosylation sites on the viral hemagglutinin HA1 subunit. Mouse-adapted viruses lose sensitivity to CV-N due to HA1 mutations that eliminate these glycosylation sites. Recently we created a hybrid (reassortant) influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus containing the HA gene of A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1) with an Asp225Gly mutation in the HA1, that was lethal to mice yet retained sensitivity to CV-N. We then utilized this model system to test the efficacy of CV-N against influenza. CV-N efficacy was dose-responsive from 0.0625 to 1 mg/kg/day when administered intranasally (i.n.) twice daily for 4 days starting 4 h prior to virus exposure. In a second study, survival benefit was seen with CV-N treatments (0.5 mg/kg/day for 4 days) beginning at −4 or +6 h, but was significantly reduced at +12 h. The early treatment resulted in up to 100% survival and 1000-fold reduction in lung virus titer on day 3 of the infection. In contrast, ribavirin (a positive control—75 mg/kg/day) treatment resulted in 30% survival and 30-fold decrease in lung virus titers. Lung consolidation scores and lung weights were significantly reduced by CV-N and ribavirin treatment on day 6 of the infection. Ferrets infected with a non-animal adapted influenza A/Charlottesville/31/95 (H1N1) virus were treated intranasally with CV-N (50 μg twice daily for 5 days starting 24 h before virus challenge). They exhibited 100-fold lower viral titers in nasal washes than placebos 1 day after treatment, but virus titers were equivalent on days 2–7. CV-N has the potential for prophylaxis and early initiation of treatment of influenza virus infections.     

Cranberry juice constituents affect influenza virus adhesion and infectivity

Cranberry juice contains high molecular weight materials (NDM) that inhibit bacterial adhesion to host cells as well as the co-aggregation of many oral bacteria. Because of its broad-spectrum activity, we investigated NDM's potential for inhibiting influenza virus adhesion to cells, and subsequent infectivity. Hemagglutination (HA) of red blood cells (RBC) caused by representatives of both influenza virus A subtypes (H1N1)and H3N2) and the B type was inhibited by NDM at concentrations of 125 microg/ml or lower, which is at least 20-fold lower than that usually found in cranberry juice. A dose-response effect of NDM on HA was demonstrated. The infectivity of the A and B types was significantly reduced by preincubation with NDM (250 microg/ml), as reflected by the lack of cytopathic effect on Madine-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and the lack of HA activity in the media of infected cells. The effect of NDM was also tested after A or B type viruses were allowed to adsorb to and penetrate the cells. Various levels of reduction in virus tissue culture infective dose TCID50 were observed. The effect was most pronounced when NDM was added several times to the infected MDCK cells. Our cumulative findings indicate that the inhibitory effect of NDM on influenza virus adhesion and infectivity may have a therapeutic potential.     

Combination chemotherapy, a potential strategy for reducing the emergence of drug-resistant influenza A variants

Rapid development of resistant influenza variants after amantadine treatment is one of the main drawbacks of M2 blockers. On the other hand, the emergence of variants with low susceptibility to the neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors is limited. In the present study we examined whether combination therapy with two classes of anti-influenza drugs can affect the emergence of resistant variants in vitro. We observed that virus yields of human A/Nanchang/1/99 (H1N1), A/Panama/2007/99 (H3N2), and A/Hong Kong/156/97 (H5N1) viruses in MDCK cells were significantly reduced (P < 0.005) when the cells were treated with the combination of amantadine and low doses of oseltamivir carboxylate (≤1 μM). After five sequential passages in MDCK cells, the M2 protein of viruses cultivated with amantadine alone mutated at positions V27A and S31N/I. Viruses cultivated with oseltamivir carboxylate (≥0.001 μM) possessed mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein. These variants showed reduced efficiency of binding to sialic acid receptors and decreased sensitivity to NA inhibitor in plaque reduction assay. Importantly, no mutations in the HA, NA, and M2 proteins were detected when the drugs were used in combination. Our results suggest that combination chemotherapy with M2 blocker and NA inhibitor reduced the emergence of drug-resistant influenza variants in vitro. This strategy could be an option for the control of influenza virus infection, and combinations with other novel drugs should be explored.     

Treatment of influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in mice and ferrets with cyanovirin-N

Cyanovirin-N (CV-N), a protein derived from Nostoc ellipsosporum, neutralizes influenza virus infectivity by binding to specific high-mannose oligosaccharides (oligomannose-8 and -9) at glycosylation sites on the viral hemagglutinin HA1 subunit. Mouse-adapted viruses lose sensitivity to CV-N due to HA1 mutations that eliminate these glycosylation sites. Recently we created a hybrid (reassortant) influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus containing the HA gene of A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1) with an Asp225Gly mutation in the HA1, that was lethal to mice yet retained sensitivity to CV-N. We then utilized this model system to test the efficacy of CV-N against influenza. CV-N efficacy was dose-responsive from 0.0625 to 1 mg/kg/day when administered intranasally (i.n.) twice daily for 4 days starting 4 h prior to virus exposure. In a second study, survival benefit was seen with CV-N treatments (0.5 mg/kg/day for 4 days) beginning at −4 or +6 h, but was significantly reduced at +12 h. The early treatment resulted in up to 100% survival and 1000-fold reduction in lung virus titer on day 3 of the infection. In contrast, ribavirin (a positive control—75 mg/kg/day) treatment resulted in 30% survival and 30-fold decrease in lung virus titers. Lung consolidation scores and lung weights were significantly reduced by CV-N and ribavirin treatment on day 6 of the infection. Ferrets infected with a non-animal adapted influenza A/Charlottesville/31/95 (H1N1) virus were treated intranasally with CV-N (50 μg twice daily for 5 days starting 24 h before virus challenge). They exhibited 100-fold lower viral titers in nasal washes than placebos 1 day after treatment, but virus titers were equivalent on days 2–7. CV-N has the potential for prophylaxis and early initiation of treatment of influenza virus infections.     

Design, synthesis, and in vitro biological evaluation of 1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide derivatives as new anti-influenza A agents targeting virus nucleoprotein

The influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) is an emerging target for anti-influenza drug development. Nucleozin (1) and its closely related derivatives had been identified as NP inhibitors displaying anti-influenza activity. Utilizing 1 as a lead molecule, we successfully designed and synthesized a series of 1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide derivatives as new anti-influenza A agents. One of the most potent compounds, 3b, inhibited the replication of various H3N2 and H1N1 influenza A virus strains with IC(50) values ranging from 0.5 to 4.6 μM. Compound 3b also strongly inhibited the replication of H5N1 (RG14), amantidine-resistant A/WSN/33 (H1N1), and oseltamivir-resistant A/WSN/1933 (H1N1, 274Y) virus strains with IC(50) values in sub-μM ranges. Further computational studies and mechanism investigation suggested that 3b might directly target influenza virus A nucleoprotein to inhibit its nuclear accumulation.     

甲型H5N1禽流感病毒血凝素在sf9昆虫细胞中的表达及其鉴定

目的  利用杆状病毒-昆虫细胞表达系统表达甲型H5N1禽流感病毒血凝素（hemagglutinin,HA）并对其进行鉴定。方法  根据sf9昆虫细胞密码子偏好性,对A/Goose/Guangdong/1/96（H5N1）禽流感病毒的HA基因进行序列优化并全长合成。构建重组供体质粒pFastHA,经PCR及测序鉴定后,转化DH10Bac感受态细胞,获得重组穿梭质粒BacmidHA,用M13引物进行PCR鉴定。采用脂质体法转染sf9细胞,获得重组杆状病毒rBacHA。用十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法（sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis,SDS-PAGE）、蛋白质印迹法以及间接免疫荧光法对rBacHA表达产物进行分析。结果  供体质粒pFastHA经双酶切后产生了1条与预期大小相符的1 707 bp条带,序列测定证实目的基因无突变。穿梭质粒BacmidHA经PCR扩增,得到1条与预期大小相符的3 180 bp条带。SDS-PAGE结果显示,rBacHA表达产物的相对分子质量约为65 000。蛋白质印迹法分析表明,表达产物能与禽流感病毒阳性血清结合。在荧光显微镜下,感染rBacHA的sf9细胞呈现绿色荧光,提示HA基因得到表达。结论  利用杆状病毒-昆虫细胞表达系统成功制备了具有良好抗原性的重组HA蛋白。     

Germacrone inhibits early stages of influenza virus infection

Highly pathogenic influenza viruses pose a serious public health threat to humans. Although vaccines are available, antivirals are needed to efficiently control disease progression and virus transmission due to the emergence of drug-resistant viral strains. In this study, germacrone, which is a major component of the essential oils extracted from Rhizoma Curcuma, was found to inhibit influenza virus replication. Germacrone showed antiviral activity against the H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A viruses and the influenza B virus in a dose-dependent manner. The viral protein expression, RNA synthesis and the production of infectious progeny viruses were decreased both in MDCK and A549 cells treated with germacrone. In a time-of-addition study, germacrone was found to exhibit an inhibitory effect on both the attachment/entry step and the early stages of the viral replication cycle. Germacrone also exhibited an effective protection of mice from lethal infection and reduced the virus titres in the lung. Furthermore, the combination of germacrone and oseltamivir exhibited an additive effect on the inhibition of influenza virus infection, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that germacrone may have the potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent alone or in combination with other agents for the treatment of influenza virus infection.     

Identification of novel virus inhibitors by influenza A virus specific reporter cell based screening

As influenza viruses have developed resistance towards current drugs, it is urgent to find potential novel antiviral inhibitors. Here we generated an influenza virus reporter cell line in which the luciferase gene was driven by the influenza virus promoter and screened a small compound library (NCI Diversity Set II). Ten compounds were identified to have inhibitory activity against influenza A virus H1N1. Among them, four compounds blocked influenza virus replication through inhibiting the activity of vRNP. The compound NSC 335506 inhibited HA-mediated membrane fusion. It showed the inhibitory activity against H1N1, H9N2 and H5N1 subtype but not H3N2. Our results demonstrated that influenza virus reporter cell is a very useful tool to identify novel inhibitors against influenza A virus.     

Effective small interfering RNAs targeting matrix and nucleocapsid protein gene inhibit influenza A virus replication in cells and mice

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool to silence gene expression. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-induced RNA degradation has been recently used as an antivirus agent to inhibit specific virus replication. Here, we showed that several siRNAs specific for conserved regions of influenza virus matrix (M2) and nucleocapsid protein (NP) genes could effectively inhibit expression of the corresponding viral protein. We also evaluated the antiviral potential of these siRNAs targeting M2 and NP of H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV), which are essential to viral replication. We investigated the inhibitory effect of M2-specific siRNAs and NP-specific siRNAs on influenza A virus (H5N1, H1N1 and H9N2) replication in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and BALB/c mice. The results showed that treatment with these siRNAs could specifically inhibit influenza A virus replication in MDCK cells (0.51-1.63 TCID(50) reduction in virus titers), and delivery of pS-M48 and pS-NP1383 significantly reduced lung virus titers in the infected mice (16-50-fold reduction in lung virus titers) and partially protected the mice from lethal influenza virus challenge (a survival rate of 4/8 for H1N1 virus-infected mice and 2/8 for H5N1 virus infected mice). Moreover, the treatment of pS-M48 and pS-NP1383 could suppress replication of different subtypes of influenza A viruses, including a H5N1 highly pathogenic avian isolate strain. The results provided a basis for further development of siRNA for prophylaxis and therapy of influenza virus infection in humans and animals.     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯抗甲型流感病毒的作用研究

目的初步探讨表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)抗甲型流感病毒的活性及其作用机制。方法采用H5N1假病毒检测体系,观察EGCG对A/Thailand/Kan353/2004H5N1毒株假病毒的抑制作用;采用神经氨酸酶抑制实验进一步分析其作用机制;采用H1N1 FM_1病毒检测体系,根据药物与病毒、细胞的不同作用,通过两种给药方式,评估EGCG对甲型流感病毒FM_1的抑制作用。结果 EGCG能特异性的抑制H5N1假病毒的进入,IC50为145.10μmol.L-1;EGCG对神经氨酸酶具有抑制作用,IC50为417.20μmol.L-1,EGCG对预防和治疗给药方式均有一定的抑制作用,其IC50分别为6.88μmol.L-1和14.83μmol.L-1,治疗指数分别为58.02和26.92。结论 EGCG在体外具有明显的抗甲型流感病毒作用,其作用机制包括抑制病毒的进入和神经氨酸酶活性。     

甲型H1N1流感儿童发生呼吸衰竭的危险因素分析

目的探讨儿童甲型H1N1流感患者发生呼吸衰竭（acute respiratory failure,ARF）的危险因素,为针对性预防其发生提供临床依据。方法对2009年9月至2010年1月我院住院51例甲型H1N1流感儿童的资料进行回顾性分析。结果51例儿童甲型H1N1流感患儿,5例发生呼吸衰竭,发生率为9．80％,多元回归分析最近有呼吸道感染或使用免疫抑制剂、中性粒细胞计数〉70％,具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,均为独立的危险因素。结论甲型H1N1流感儿童必须预防或积极治疗其合并的细菌感染,以防呼吸衰竭的发生。     

In vitro generation and characterisation of an influenza B variant with reduced sensitivity to neuraminidase inhibitors

A contemporary influenza type B virus was passaged in vitro in the presence of increasing concentrations of the neuraminidase inhibitors, zanamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate (0.1-1000 microM over nine passages). After the fifth passage in the presence of zanamivir (10 microM), the virus acquired a Glu 119 Asp neuraminidase mutation (influenza A N2 subtype numbering) in the enzyme active site. After a further three passages, in which growth occurred in 100 microM of zanamivir, a Gln 218 Lys mutation (A (H3) numbering) in the HA1 domain of the haemagglutinin was found. In a fluorescence-based neuraminidase inhibition assay, viruses with the Glu 119 Asp NA mutation had a 32,000-fold reduction in sensitivity to the NA inhibitor zanamivir compared to the wild-type virus, while the mutation resulted in a 105-fold reduction in sensitivity to oseltamivir carboxylate. Viruses grown in the presence of 1000 microM oseltamivir carboxylate did not acquire any neuraminidase mutations but did have a His 103 Gln substitution (A (H3) numbering) in the HA1 region of the haemagglutinin which was demonstrated to significantly reduce receptor binding strength in vitro. Tissue culture assays demonstrated that the HA mutation caused a seven-fold reduction in sensitivity to oseltamivir carboxylate, and a 90-fold reduction in sensitivity to zanamivir.     

Sensitivity to influenza infection of X-ray-irradiated animals and the protective effect of a thymus extract

The A 2/Romania 1/73 (H3N2) strain of influenza virus at the 15th passage on chick embryos was compared to the mouse adapted A0/PR8/34 (H0N1) strain, as regards pathogenicity for X-ray irradiated mice. Irradiated mice showed a greater sensitivity to influenza infection than nonirradiated controls, irrespective of the strain used: hemagglutinating (HA) titers were constantly higher in the first group of animals. Administration of a polypeptidic thymus extract to irradiated mice inoculated with the A0/PR8 strain had a protective effect and was followed by a decrease in mean HA titer from 1/3077 to 1/164. The authors discuss the possible mechanisms of the viral multiplication rate increase in irradiated animals and of the higher resistance against influenza infection noted in thymus-extract treated animals.     

In vitro anti-influenza virus and anti-inflammatory activities of theaflavin derivatives

The theaflavins fraction (TF80%, with a purity of 80%) and three theaflavin (TF) derivatives from black tea have been found to exhibit potent inhibitory effects against influenza virus in vitro. They were evaluated with a neuraminidase (NA) activity assay, a hemagglutination (HA) inhibition assay, a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for gene expression of hemagglutinin (HA) and a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay. The experimental results showed that they all exerted significant inhibitory effects on the NA of three different subtypes of influenza virus strains [A/PR/8/34(H1N1), A/Sydney/5/97(H3N2) and B/Jiangsu/10/2003] with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values ranging from 9.27 to 36.55 μg/mL, and they also displayed an inhibitory effect on HA; these inhibitory effects might constitute two major mechanisms of their antiviral activity. Time-of-addition studies demonstrated that TF derivatives might have a direct effect on viral particle infectivity, which was consistent with the inhibitory effect on HA. Subsequently, the inhibitory effect of TF derivatives on the replication of the viral HA gene as assayed by qPCR and on the nuclear localization of the influenza virus vRNP further demonstrated that they may primarily act during the early stage of infection. Interestingly, besides the activity against functional viral proteins, TF derivatives also decreased the expression level of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 during viral infection, expression of which may result in serious tissue injury and apoptosis. Our results indicated that TF derivatives are potential compounds with anti-influenza viral replication and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings will provide important information for new drug design and development for the treatment of influenza virus infection.     

The 2008-2009 H1N1 influenza virus exhibits reduced susceptibility to antibody inhibition: Implications for the prevalence of oseltamivir resistant variant viruses

A naturally-occurring H275Y oseltamivir resistant variant of influenza A (H1N1) virus emerged in 2007, subsequently becoming prevalent worldwide, via an undetermined mechanism. To understand the antigenic properties of the H275Y variant, oseltamivir resistant and susceptible strains of H1N1 viruses were analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and microneutralization assays. HI analysis with H1-positive sera obtained from seasonal flu vaccine immunized and non-immunized individuals, and H1-specific monoclonal antibodies, revealed that resistant strains exhibited a reduced reactivity to these antisera and antibodies in the HI assay, as compared to susceptible strains. Neutralization assay testing demonstrated that oseltamivir resistant H1N1 strains are also less susceptible to antibody inhibition during infection. Mice inoculated with a resistant clinical isolate exhibit 4-fold lower virus-specific antibody titers than mice infected with a susceptible strain under the same conditions. Resistant and sensitive variants of 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus did not exhibit such differences. While HA1 and NA phylogenetic trees show that both oseltamivir resistant and susceptible strains belong to clade 2B, NA D354G and HA A189T substitutions were found exclusively, and universally, in oseltamivir resistant variants. Our results suggest that the reduced susceptibility to antibody inhibition and lesser in vivo immunogenicity of the oseltamivir resistant 2008-2009 H1N1 influenza A virus is conferred by coupled NA and HA mutations, and may contribute to the prevalence of this H1N1 variant.