Neutralizing and protective epitopes of the 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1 hemagglutinin

Aims and Methods To facilitate antigenic characterization of the influenza A 2009 pandemic H1N1 [A(H1N1)pdm09] hemagglutinin (HA), we generated a panel of murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using as the immunogen mammalian‐derived virus‐like particles containing the HA of the A/California/04/2009 virus. The antibodies were specific for the A/California/04/2009 HA, and individual mAbs suitable for use in several practical applications including ELISA, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis were identified. Results and Conclusions As the panel of mAbs included antibodies with hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and virus neutralizing activities, this allowed identification and characterization of potentially important antigenic and neutralizing epitopes of the A/California/04/2009 HA and comparison of those epitopes with the HAs of other influenza viruses including seasonal H1N1 viruses as well as the A/South Carolina/1918 and A/New Jersey/1976 H1N1 viruses. Three mAbs with the highest HI and neutralizing titers were able to provide passive protection against virus challenge. Two other mAbs without HI or neutralizing activities were able to provide partial protection against challenge. HA epitopes recognized by the strongest neutralizing mAbs in the panel were identified by isolation and selection of virus escape mutants in the presence of individual mAbs. Cloned viruses resistant to HI and antibody neutralization were sequenced to identify mutations, and two unique mutations (D127E and G155E) were identified, both near the antigenic site Sa. Using human post‐vaccination sera, however, there were no differences in HI titer between A/California/04/2009 and either escape mutant, suggesting that these single mutations were not sufficient to abrogate a protective antibody response to the vaccine.     

Independent and disparate evolution in nature of influenza A virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase glycoproteins.

The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) external glycoprotein antigens of H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes of epidemiologically important influenza A viruses prevalent during recent decades were subjected to intensive antigenic analysis by four different methods. Prior to serological analysis with polyclonal rabbit antisera, HA and NA antigens of four viruses of each subtype were segregated by genetic reassortment to forestall nonspecific steric hindrance during antigen-antibody combination. This analysis has demonstrated that with respect to antigenic phenotype, HA and NA proteins have evolved at different rates. With H1N1 viruses, an arrest of significant evolution of the NA discordant with the continuing antigenic drift of HA was found in the 1980-1983 period. It is probable that the different and independent rates of evolution of HA and NA reflect the greater selective pressure of HA antibodies, which forces the more rapid emergence of HA escape mutants. The slower antigenic change found for NA further supports the potential for NA-specific infection-permissive immunization as a useful stratagem against influenza.     

Genetic characterization of seasonal influenza A (H3N2) viruses in Ontario during 2010–2011 influenza season: high prevalence of mutations at antigenic sites

Background

The direct effect of antigenic site mutations in influenza viruses on antigenic drift and vaccine effectiveness is poorly understood.

Objective

To investigate the genetic and antigenic characteristics of human influenza A (H3N2) viruses circulating in Ontario during the early 2010–2011 winter season.

Study design

We sequenced the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes from 41 A(H3N2) viruses detected in nasopharyngeal specimens. Strain typing was performed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. Molecular and phylogenetic tree analyses were conducted.

Results

HA and NA genes showed high similarity to the 2010–2011 vaccine strain, A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus (97·7–98·5% and 98·7–99·5% amino acid (AA) identity, respectively). Compared to A/Perth/16/2009 strain, HA gene mutations were documented at 28 different AA positions across all five H3 antigenic sites, with a range of 5–11 mutations in individual viruses. Thirty-six (88%) viruses had 8 AA substitutions in common; none of these had reduced HI titer. Among Ontario isolates, 11 antigenic site AAs were positively selected with an increase in glycosylation sites.

Conclusion

The presence of antigenic site mutations with high frequency among 2010–2011 influenza H3N2 isolates confirms ongoing adaptive H3N2 evolution. These may represent early phylogenetic changes that could cause antigenic drift with further mutations. Clinical relevance of antigenic site mutations not causing drift in HI assays is unknown and requires further investigation. In addition, viral sequencing information will assist with vaccine strain planning and may facilitate early detection of vaccine escape.     

2009年上海地区甲型流行性感冒流行及甲型H1N1病毒分离株变异分析

目的 了解2009年上海地区人群流行性感冒(流感)的流行特征和流行期间甲型H1N1分离株基因和抗原的变异.方法 采集2009年上海地区哨点医院和学校聚集性流感样患者咽拭子标本,接种犬肾细胞(MDCK细胞)分离流感病毒,直接荧光免疫法鉴定流感病毒型,RT-PCR法鉴定亚型,对部分甲型H1N1流感病毒进行血凝素(HA)、神经氨酸酶(NA)等片段全基因测序,分析甲型H1N1流感病毒HA、NA等基因变异.结果 2009年上海地区冬春季人群流感中,季节性H1N1和H3N2流感同时存在,进入第32周时,甲型H1N1和季节性H3N2流感同时流行,第40周后主要是甲型H1N1流行.甲型H1N1流行株HA进化分析显示,不同区域、不同月份分离株互有穿插,上海地区分离株聚集成簇形成一个分枝,与西班牙、俄罗斯、丹麦等国的流行株接近.HA演绎推导氨基酸位点虽有变异,但都不位于抗原决定区域;NA基因演绎推导氨基酸位点未观察到274位点及与耐奥司他韦药物相关其他位点的变异;PB2蛋白氨基酸序列分析显示,第627位和第701位氨基酸分别是谷氨酸和天冬氨酸,为禽源流感病毒PB2蛋白氨基酸位点.结论 2009年上海地区冬春季人群流感,季节性H1N1和H3N2同时流行,夏秋季开始甲型H1N1、季节性H3N2在人群中同时流行,之后以甲型H1N1为主.甲型H1N1与早期分离株比较有一定变异,但尚未出现流行病学意义的抗原漂移株,仍表现为对人的高亲和力和低致病性特征.     

2009年上海地区甲型流行性感冒流行及甲型H1N1病毒分离株变异分析

目的 了解2009年上海地区人群流行性感冒(流感)的流行特征和流行期间甲型H1N1分离株基因和抗原的变异.方法 采集2009年上海地区哨点医院和学校聚集性流感样患者咽拭子标本,接种犬肾细胞(MDCK细胞)分离流感病毒,直接荧光免疫法鉴定流感病毒型,RT-PCR法鉴定亚型,对部分甲型H1N1流感病毒进行血凝素(HA)、神经氨酸酶(NA)等片段全基因测序,分析甲型H1N1流感病毒HA、NA等基因变异.结果 2009年上海地区冬春季人群流感中,季节性H1N1和H3N2流感同时存在,进入第32周时,甲型H1N1和季节性H3N2流感同时流行,第40周后主要是甲型H1N1流行.甲型H1N1流行株HA进化分析显示,不同区域、不同月份分离株互有穿插,上海地区分离株聚集成簇形成一个分枝,与西班牙、俄罗斯、丹麦等国的流行株接近.HA演绎推导氨基酸位点虽有变异,但都不位于抗原决定区域;NA基因演绎推导氨基酸位点未观察到274位点及与耐奥司他韦药物相关其他位点的变异;PB2蛋白氨基酸序列分析显示,第627位和第701位氨基酸分别是谷氨酸和天冬氨酸,为禽源流感病毒PB2蛋白氨基酸位点.结论 2009年上海地区冬春季人群流感,季节性H1N1和H3N2同时流行,夏秋季开始甲型H1N1、季节性H3N2在人群中同时流行,之后以甲型H1N1为主.甲型H1N1与早期分离株比较有一定变异,但尚未出现流行病学意义的抗原漂移株,仍表现为对人的高亲和力和低致病性特征.     

Characterization of Immune Response towards Generation of Universal Anti-HA-Stalk Antibodies after Immunization of Broiler Hens with Triple H5N1/NA-HA-M1 VLPs

(1) Background: Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) promptly evade preexisting immunity by constantly altering the immunodominant neutralizing antibody epitopes (antigenic drift) or by procuring new envelope serotypes (antigenic shift). As a consequence, the majority of antibodies elicited by infection or vaccination protect only against closely related strains. The immunodominance of the globular head of the main glycoprotein has been shown to mask the immunogenicity of the conserved regions located within the hemagglutinin (HA) protein. It has been shown that the broadly neutralizing universal antibodies recognize the HA2 domain in headless hemagglutinin (HA-stalk). Therefore, the HA-stalk is a highly conserved antigen, which makes it a good candidate to be used in universal vaccine development against AIVs. (2) Methods: Sf9 insect cells were used to produce triple H5N1/NA-HA-M1 influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) via co-expression of neuraminidase, hemagglutinin and matrix proteins from a tricistronic expression cassette. Purified influenza VLPs were used to immunize broiler hens. An in-depth characterization of the immune response was performed with an emphasis on the pool of elicited universal antibodies. (3) Results: Our findings suggest, that after vaccination with triple H5N1/NA-HA-M1 VLPs, hens generate a pool of broad-spectrum universal anti-HA-stalk antibodies. Furthermore, these universal antibodies are able to recognize the mammalian-derived HA-stalk recombinant proteins from homologous H5N1 and heterologous H7N9 AIVs as well as from the heterosubtypic human H1N1 influenza strain. (4) Conclusions: Our findings may suggest that highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 HA protein contain functional epitopes that are attractive targets for the generation of broad-spectrum antibodies against AIVs in their native hosts.     

2009年上海地区甲型流行性感冒流行及甲型H1N1病毒分离株变异分析

目的 了解2009年上海地区人群流行性感冒(流感)的流行特征和流行期间甲型H1N1分离株基因和抗原的变异.方法 采集2009年上海地区哨点医院和学校聚集性流感样患者咽拭子标本,接种犬肾细胞(MDCK细胞)分离流感病毒,直接荧光免疫法鉴定流感病毒型,RT-PCR法鉴定亚型,对部分甲型H1N1流感病毒进行血凝素(HA)、神经氨酸酶(NA)等片段全基因测序,分析甲型H1N1流感病毒HA、NA等基因变异.结果 2009年上海地区冬春季人群流感中,季节性H1N1和H3N2流感同时存在,进入第32周时,甲型H1N1和季节性H3N2流感同时流行,第40周后主要是甲型H1N1流行.甲型H1N1流行株HA进化分析显示,不同区域、不同月份分离株互有穿插,上海地区分离株聚集成簇形成一个分枝,与西班牙、俄罗斯、丹麦等国的流行株接近.HA演绎推导氨基酸位点虽有变异,但都不位于抗原决定区域;NA基因演绎推导氨基酸位点未观察到274位点及与耐奥司他韦药物相关其他位点的变异;PB2蛋白氨基酸序列分析显示,第627位和第701位氨基酸分别是谷氨酸和天冬氨酸,为禽源流感病毒PB2蛋白氨基酸位点.结论 2009年上海地区冬春季人群流感,季节性H1N1和H3N2同时流行,夏秋季开始甲型H1N1、季节性H3N2在人群中同时流行,之后以甲型H1N1为主.甲型H1N1与早期分离株比较有一定变异,但尚未出现流行病学意义的抗原漂移株,仍表现为对人的高亲和力和低致病性特征.     

Changes in H5N1 influenza virus hemagglutinin receptor binding domain affect systemic spread

The HA of influenza virus is a receptor-binding and fusion protein that is required to initiate infection. The HA receptor-binding domain determines the species of sialyl receptors recognized by influenza viruses. Here, we demonstrate that changes in the HA receptor-binding domain alter the ability of the H5N1 virus to spread systemically in mice. The A/Vietnam/1203/04 (VN1203) and A/Hong Kong/213/03 (HK213) viruses are consistently lethal to domestic chickens but differ in their pathogenicity to mammals. Insertion of the VN1203 HA and neuraminidase (NA) genes into recombinant HK213 virus expanded its tissue tropism and increased its lethality in mice; conversely, insertion of HK213 HA and NA genes into recombinant VN1203 virus decreased its systemic spread and lethality. The VN1203 and HK213 HAs differ by 10 aa, and HK213 HA has shown greater binding affinity for synthetic α2,6-linked sialyl receptor. Introduction of an S227N change and removal of N-linked glycosylation at residue 158 increased the α2,6-binding affinity of VN1203 HA. Recombinant VN1203 virus carrying the S227N change alone or with the residue-158 glycosylation site removed showed reduced lethality and systemic spread in mice but not in domestic chickens. Wild-type VN1203 virus exhibited the greatest efficiency in systemic spread after intramuscular inoculation and in infection of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and conventional pulmonary dendritic cells. These results show that VN1203 HA glycoprotein confers pathogenicity by facilitating systemic spread in mice; they also suggest that a minor change in receptor binding domain may modulate the virulence of H5N1 viruses.     

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing the hemagglutinin of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus induces cross‐protective immunity against Eurasian ‘avian‐like’ H1N1 swine viruses in mice

Objectives

To examine cross-reactivity between hemagglutinin (HA) derived from A/California/7/09 (CA/09) virus and that derived from representative Eurasian “avian-like” (EA) H1N1 swine viruses isolated in Italy between 1999 and 2008 during virological surveillance in pigs.

Design

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing the HA gene of CA/09 virus (MVA-HA-CA/09) was used as a vaccine to investigate cross-protective immunity against H1N1 swine viruses in mice.

Sample

Two classical swine H1N1 (CS) viruses and four representative EA-like H1N1 swine viruses previously isolated during outbreaks of respiratory disease in pigs on farms in Northern Italy were used in this study.

Setting

Female C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with MVA/HA/CA/09 and then challenged intranasally with H1N1 swine viruses.

Main outcome measures

Cross-reactive antibody responses were determined by hemagglutination- inhibition (HI) and virus microneutralizing (MN) assays of sera from MVA-vaccinated mice. The extent of protective immunity against infection with H1N1 swine viruses was determined by measuring lung viral load on days 2 and 4 post-challenge.

Results and Conclusions

Systemic immunization of mice with CA/09-derived HA, vectored by MVA, elicited cross-protective immunity against recent EA-like swine viruses. This immune protection was related to the levels of cross-reactive HI antibodies in the sera of the immunized mice and was dependent on the similarity of the antigenic site Sa of H1 HAs. Our findings suggest that the herd immunity elicited in humans by the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus could limit the transmission of recent EA-like swine HA genes into the influenza A virus gene pool in humans.     

Virological characterization of influenza H1N1pdm09 in Vietnam, 2010‐2013

Objectives

Influenza A/H1N1pdm09 virus was first detected in Vietnam on May 31, 2009, and continues to circulate in Vietnam as a seasonal influenza virus. This study has monitored genotypic and phenotypic changes in this group of viruses during 2010–2013 period.

Design and setting

We sequenced hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes from representative influenza A/H1N1pdm09 and compared with vaccine strain A/California/07/09 and other contemporary isolates from neighboring countries. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neuraminidase inhibition (NAI) assays also were performed on these isolates.

Sample

Representative influenza A/H1N1pdm09 isolates (n = 61) from ILI and SARI surveillances in northern Vietnam between 2010 and 2013.

Main outcome measures and results

The HA and NA phylogenies revealed six and seven groups, respectively. Five isolates (8·2%) had substitutions G155E and N156K in the HA, which were associated with reduced HI titers by antiserum raised against the vaccine virus A/California/07/2009. One isolate from 2011 and one isolate from 2013 had a predicted H275Y substitution in the neuraminidase molecule, which was associated with reduced susceptibility to oseltamivir in a NAI assay. We also identified a D222N change in the HA of a virus isolated from a fatal case in 2013.

Conclusions

Significant genotypic and phenotypic changes in A/ H1N1pdm09 influenza viruses were detected by the National Influenza Surveillance System (NISS) in Vietnam between 2010 and 2013 highlighting the value of this system to Vietnam and to the region. Sustained NISS and continued virological monitoring of seasonal influenza viruses are required for vaccine policy development in Vietnam. 3     

Neuraminidase (NA) 370-Loop Mutations of the 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Viruses Affect NA Enzyme Activity,Hemagglutination Titer,Mouse Virulence,and Inactivated-Virus Immunogenicity

Hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) are the two major envelope proteins of influenza viruses. The spatial organization of HA and NA on the virus surface needs to be optimized to promote viral fitness, host specificity, transmissibility, infectivity, and virulence. We previously demonstrated that the recombinant NA protein of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) with the I365T/S366N mutation in the NA 370-loop elicited higher NA-inhibition antibody titers against the homologous pH1N1 virus and three heterologous H5N1, H3N2, and H7N9 viruses in mice. In this study, we used PR8-based reverse genetics (RG) by replacing the HA and NA genes of A/Texas/05/2009 pH1N1 virus to obtain the wild-type pH1N1 and three NA 370-loop mutant viruses of pH1N1 (I365T/S366N), RG pH1N1 (I365E/S366D), and RG pH1N1 (I365T/S366A). Our results revealed that the viral NA enzyme activity increased for the RG pH1N1(I365T/S366N) and RG pH1N1 (I365E/S366D) viruses but reduced for the RG pH1N1 (I365T/S366A) virus. The increased or decreased NA enzyme activity was found to correlate with the increase or decrease in HA titers of these NA 370-loop mutant viruses. All of these three NA 370-loop mutant RG pH1N1 viruses were less virulent than the wild-type RG pH1N1 virus in mice. Immunizations with the inactivated viruses carrying the three NA 370-loop mutations and the wild-type RG pH1N1 virus were found to elicit approximately the same titers of NA-inhibition antibodies against H1N1 and H5N1 viruses. These results may provide information for developing NA-based influenza virus vaccines.     

2018-2020年克拉玛依市甲型H3N2流感病毒分子特征分析北大核心CSCD

目的了解克拉玛依市甲型H3N2流感病毒HA和NA基因特征,为防控提供科学依据。方法收集2018-2020年克拉玛依市甲型H3N2流感毒株进行HA和NA基因序列测定,运用Mega软件与疫苗株进行序列比对和分析。结果 18株毒株HA基因与A/Hong Kong/4801/2014同源性高于A/Kansas/14/2017,NA基因与A/Hong Kong/4801/2014同源性低于A/Kansas/14/2017。相对疫苗株,克拉玛依市毒株已出现氨基酸同时在2个及以上抗原决定簇发生替换;HA蛋白均发生了糖基化位点的改变;未发现与耐药相关位点突变。结论 2019-2020年克拉玛依市毒株与当年度疫苗推荐株匹配度降低且HA已发生抗原漂移,可能导致本地区H3N2毒株流行,神经氨酸酶抑制剂类药物依旧能够有效治疗流感,应加强对流感病毒HA和NA基因进行监测。     

Immunization with purified N1 and N2 influenza virus neuraminidases demonstrates cross-reactivity without antigenic competition.

Based on the absence of serologic cross-reactivity, the neuraminidases (NAs) of influenza A viruses are divided into antigenically discrete subtypes, analogous to the hemagglutinin (HA) major antigens with which they share the virion surface. An innovative approach to influenza vaccination takes advantage of the infection-permissive nature of immunization with NA as the minor surface antigen. However, evidence that HA dominates immune response when HA and NA are presented together in the intact virion prompted investigation of possible competing effects during immunization of NA subtype mixtures ultimately required for human vaccination. Immunization of BALB/c mice with purified N1- and N2-subtype NAs demonstrated no antigenic competition in primary or secondary response. However, when homotypic or heterotypic infection followed immunization, cross-reactive antibodies between N1 and N2 were found and "reverse antigen competition" occurred with initial NA priming suppressing response to HA following infection with virus containing homologous NA. These studies of antigen mixtures have implications for the use of combined and chimeric vaccines for diseases other than influenza.     

A sensitive retroviral pseudotype assay for influenza H5N1‐neutralizing antibodies

Background The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the development of simple, safe, sensitive and specific neutralization assays for avian influenza antibodies. We have used retroviral pseudotypes bearing influenza H5 hemagglutinin (HA) as safe, surrogate viruses for influenza neutralization assays which can be carried out at Biosafety Level 2. Results Using our assay, sera from patients who had recovered from infection with influenza H5N1, and sera from animals experimentally immunized or infected with H5 tested positive for the presence of neutralizing antibodies to H5N1. Pseudotype neutralizing antibody titers were compared with titers obtained by hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assays and microneutralization (MN) assays using live virus, and showed a high degree of correlation, sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions The pseudotype neutralization assay is as sensitive as horse erythrocyte HI and MN for the detection of antibodies to H5N1. It is safer, and can be applied in a high‐throughput format for human and animal surveillance and for the evaluation of vaccines.     

Whole‐genome analysis of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses isolated in Uganda from 2009 to 2011

We report a whole‐genome analysis of 19 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 isolates from four Ugandan hospitals between 2009 and 2011. The isolates differed from the vaccine strain A/California/07/2009 by three amino acid substitutions P100S, S220T, and I338V in the hemagglutinin and by two amino acid substitutions V106I and N248D in the neuraminidase proteins with consistent mutations in all gene segments distinguishing isolates from the 2009/2010 to 2010/2011 seasons. Phylogenetic analysis showed low genetic evolution, with genetic distances of 0%–1.3% and 0.1%–1.6% for HA and NA genes, respectively. The amino acid substitutions did not lead to antigenic differences from the reference strains.     

H9N2亚型禽流感病毒纤突蛋白基因的分析

目的　克隆禽流感病毒A/Chicken/Guangxi/KMⅢ / 99(H9N2 )纤突蛋白血凝素基因和神经氨酸酶基因 ,并与同一亚型不同毒株的病毒进行比较。方法　本研究以自行设计的引物 ,一次性成功地扩增出KMⅢ毒株HA和NA全长基因cD NA ,并将它们克隆和测序。以获得的核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列与其它毒株的HA蛋白和NA蛋白比较。结果　HA基因由16 83bp组成 ,编码 5 6 0个氨基酸 ;NA全基因为 14 0 7bp、编码 4 6 9个氨基酸残基 ;HA1羧基端的氨基酸组成是 :R -S -S -R ,符合低致病力毒株的分子特征。它们的氨基酸组成虽有差异 ,但与血凝素和神经氨酸酶功能关系密切的氨基酸残基却高度保守。联机检索表明 ,KMⅢ的HA基因cDNA与其它H9N2亚型HA基因最大同源性在 82 %～ 96 %之间。NA基因cDNA与其它H9N2亚型NA基因的最大同源性在 88%～ 97%之间。结论　我们首次克隆和测序了KMⅢ毒株的HA基因和NA基因 ,并对它们进行了分析     

Feasibility of reconstructed ancestral H5N1 influenza viruses for cross-clade protective vaccine development

Since the reemergence of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses in humans in 2003, these viruses have spread throughout avian species in Asia, Europe, and Africa. Their sustained circulation has resulted in the evolution of phylogenetically diverse lineages. Viruses from these lineages show considerable antigenic variation, which has confounded vaccine planning efforts. We reconstructed ancestral protein sequences at several nodes of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) gene phylogenies that represent ancestors to diverse H5N1 virus clades. By using the same methods that have been used to generate currently licensed inactivated H5N1 vaccines, we were able to produce a panel of replication competent influenza viruses containing synthesized HA and NA genes representing the reconstructed ancestral proteins. We identified two of these viruses that showed promising in vitro cross-reactivity with clade 1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3.4, and 4 viruses. To confirm that vaccine antigens derived from these viruses were able to elicit functional antibodies following immunization, we created whole-virus vaccines and compared their protective efficacy versus that of antigens from positive control, naturally occurring, and broadly reactive H5N1 viruses. The ancestral viruses' vaccines provided robust protection against morbidity and mortality in ferrets challenged with H5N1 strains from clades 1, 2.1, and 2.2 in a manner similar to those based on the control strains. These findings provide proof of principle that viable, computationally derived vaccine seed viruses can be constructed within the context of currently licensed vaccine platforms. Such technologies should be explored to enhance the cross reactivity and availability of H5N1 influenza vaccines.     

2014年长沙市活禽市场污水中H5N1亚型禽流感病毒HA、NA及NS基因进化分析

目的 分析2014年长沙市活禽市场污水中H5N1亚型禽流感病毒(Avian influenza virus,AIV)血凝素(Hemagglutinin,HA)、神经氨酸酶(Neuraminidase,NA)及非结构蛋白(Non-structural,NS)基因进化特征.方法 从2014年长沙市活禽市场采集501份环境标本,利用Real-time PCR方法进行A型、H5、H7和H9亚型流感病毒核酸检测,并对单一H5阳性标本进行核苷酸测序,病毒HA、NA和NS基因测序结果进行在线BLAST分析,利用Mega5和Bioedit软件构建核苷酸进化树和氨基酸(Amino acids,aa)比对.结果 从501份环境标本中检出A型H5亚型病毒阳性标本177份(检出率35.33％),其中8份标本经核苷酸测序鉴定为H5N1亚型病毒,进化分析表明大部分H5N1病毒HA基因位于2.3.2分支内,聚集形成一个新亚分支,NA及NS基因位于2.3.2.lb亚分支.HA蛋白受体结合位点aa为QSG,表现为禽流感病毒受体特征;NA蛋白未出现H275Y及N295S aa替换,对神经氨酸酶抑制剂敏感;HA、NA及NS蛋白关键分子位点表现为高致病性的分子特征.结论 2014年长沙市活禽市场污水中H5N1亚型禽流感病毒HA、NA和NS基因表现为高致病性的分子特征,但不具有对人易感的受体特征,需要进一步监测.     

Genetic analysis of H3N2 influenza A viruses isolated in 2006–2007 in Nairobi,Kenya

Background Minimal influenza surveillance has been carried out in sub‐Saharan Africa to provide information on circulating influenza subtypes for the purpose of vaccine production and monitoring trends in virus spread and mutations. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate a surveillance program in Kenya to isolate and characterize influenza viruses. Results In the 2006–2007 influenza season, nine influenza A viruses were isolated. All were of H3N2 subtype with key amino acid (aa) changes indicating that they were more closely related to recent World Health Organization recommended vaccine strains than to older vaccine strains, and mirroring the evolution of circulating influenza A globally. Hemagglutination inhibition data showed that the 2006 Kenya isolates had titers identical to the 2005–2006 H3N2 vaccine strain but two‐ to threefold lower titers to the 2006–2007 vaccine strain, suggesting that the isolates were antigenic variants of the 2006–2007 vaccine strains. Analysis of aa substitutions of hemagglutinin‐1 (HA1) protein of the 2006 Kenyan viruses revealed unique genetic variations with several aa substitutions located at immunodominant epitopes of the HA1 protein. These mutations included the V112I change at site E, the K 173 E substitution at site D and N 278 K change at site C, mutations that may result in conformational change on the HA molecule to expose novel epitopes thus abrogating binding of pre‐existing antibodies at these sites. Conclusion Characterization of these important genetic variations in influenza A viruses isolated from Kenya highlights the importance of continuing surveillance and characterization of emerging influenza drift variants in sub‐Saharan Africa.     

H5N1禽流感病毒抗原基因的体外转录及RNA标准品构建

目的 通过基因克隆和体外转录,获得H5N1禽流感病毒血凝素(HA)、神经氨酸酶(NA)、基质蛋白M(M)基因的RNA片段,为病原学检测提供阳性定量标准品.方法　设计H5N1禽流感病毒的HA、NA及M基因全长开放阅读框的克隆引物,提取H5N1禽流感病毒总RNA,用RT-PCR获得相应片段,分别连接至Pgem-T easy...