Evolutionary characterization of influenza virus A/duck/Hubei/W1/2004 (H9N2) isolated from central China

Full-length eight gene segments of avian influenza virus A/duck/Hubei/W1/2004(H9N2) (Dk/Hub/W1/04) were amplified by RT-PCR and completely sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Dk/Hub/W1/04 was derived from A/Duck/HongKong/Y280/97, not displaying direct evolutional relationship with A/Quail/HongKong/G1/97 or Hubei H5N1 viruses. Meanwhile, Dk/Hub/W1/04 was found highly related to recent three chicken isolates. The connecting peptide of HA and the deletion in NA stalk were consistent with three chicken isolates, and the number of potential glycosylation site on the HA and NA also was similar or identical to the three chicken isolates. These findings suggested that Dk/Hub/W1/04 is likely to transmit back to ducks from chickens.     

Dogs are highly susceptible to H5N1 avian influenza virus

Replication of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in dogs may facilitate their adaptation in humans; however, the data to date on H5N1 influenza virus infection in dogs are conflicting. To elucidate the susceptibility of dogs to this pathogen, we infected two groups of 6 beagles with 10⁶ 50% egg-infectious dose of H5N1 AIV A/bar-headed goose/Qinghai/3/05 (BHG/QH/3/05) intranasally (i.n.) and intratracheally (i.t.), respectively. The dogs showed disease symptoms, including anorexia, fever, conjunctivitis, labored breathing and cough, and one i.t. inoculated animal died on day 4 post-infection. Virus shedding was detected from all 6 animals inoculated i.n. and one inoculated i.t. Virus replication was detected in all animals that were euthanized on day 3 or day 5 post-infection and in the animal that died on day 4 post-infection. Our results demonstrate that dogs are highly susceptible to H5N1 AIV and may serve as an intermediate host to transfer this virus to humans.     

北京市首例人感染H9N2禽流感病例的流行病学调查

目的 分析2016年12月北京市朝阳区确诊的l例人感染H9N2禽流感病例流行病学特征.方法 访谈病例发病前后的相关知情人,调查病例发病经过和可能感染来源.采集病例、密切接触者及环境标本,应用实时荧光定量PCR(real-timePCR)方法,检测甲型流感病毒及H9N2禽流感病毒特异的核酸片段.对病例咽拭子标本和l件阳性环境标本中的H9N2禽流感病毒血凝素(Hemagglutinin,HA)基因进行序列测定和分析.结果 病例表现为轻症流感样病例症状,发病前15天曾有活禽市场暴露史.该市场环境标本中H9N2禽流感病毒阳性率为18.2％ (2/11).病例咽拭子标本与市场环境标本中病毒的HA基因高度同源,氨基酸相似度为100％,在进化关系上同属于欧亚系的Y280分支.4名密切接触者在医学观察期内未出现过发热、咳嗽等呼吸道症状.结论 病例感染来源与活禽市场环境暴露有关.加强流感监测以及活禽市场的管理对于防控人感染禽流感疫情具有重要意义.     

北京市1例人感染H9N2禽流感病例的流行病学调查与分析

目的 分析北京市人感染H7N9禽流感疫情强化监测中发现的1例人感染H9N2禽流感病例流行病学调查情况,为今后科学防控人感染H9N2禽流感疫情提供参考.方法 采用现场流行病学和实验室检测相结合的方法,收集病例流行病学资料,采集并检测病例、暴露环境和密切接触者等标本,分析流行病学特征和可能的感染来源.结果 病例发病第3日和第7日咽拭子标本检测均为H9N2禽流感病毒核酸阳性.病例发病前10天内无禽类接触史,但病例平时活动有暴露于H9N2禽流感病毒污染环境的可能.密切接触者在医学观察期内均未出现流感样症状.结论 该病例为北京市首例成人感染H9N2禽流感确诊病例,同时也是北京市第二例H9N2禽流感确诊病例.医疗机构加强流感样病例监测是及时发现人感染H9N2禽流感病例的重要手段.     

H9N2禽流感病毒一步法双重荧光RT-PCR检测方法的建立

目的 建立一种可同时检测禽流感病毒H9N2的HA和NA基因一步法双重荧光RT-PCR方法.方法 针对H9N2禽流感病毒的HA和NA基因保守区,设计相应的特异性引物以及探针,优化检测体系及反应条件,建立一步法双重荧光定量RT-PCR方法.对该方法的灵敏度、特异性、稳定性进行验证与评估,并对家禽粪便标本进行应用检测,以单重实时荧光RT-PCR方法作为参照,检测结果不一致的样本采用测序进行验证.结果 该方法特异性强,与H1、H3、H5、H7亚型禽流感病毒、鸡新城疫及鸡传染性支炎病毒均无交叉反应,对HA和NA基因的最低检出限分别可达50拷贝/μL和25拷贝/μL,组间与组内的变异系数在0.20 ～0.79％之间.对82份粪便标本进行检测,H9N2禽流感病毒的阳性率为8.14％ (7/82),与单重实时荧光RT-PCR法检测结果一致.结论 该方法特异性强、灵敏度高、稳定性好,可应用于临床禽流感样本的检测.     

Avian influenza A virus H7N9 in China,a role reversal from reassortment receptor to the donator

Reassortment can introduce one or more gene segments of influenza A viruses (IAVs) into another, resulting in novel subtypes. Since 2013, a new outbreak of human highly pathogenic avian influenza has emerged in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and South-Central regions of China. In this study, using Anhui province as an example, we discuss the possible impact of H7N9 IAVs on future influenza epidemics through a series of gene reassortment events. Sixty-one human H7N9 isolates were obtained from five outbreaks in Anhui province from 2013 to 2019. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that all of them were characterized by low pathogenicity and high human or mammalian tropism and had introduced novel avian influenza A virus (AIV) subtypes such as H7N2, H7N6, H9N9, H5N6, H6N6, and H10N6 through gene reassortment. In reassortment events, Anhui isolates may donate one or more segments of HA, NA, and the six internal protein-coding genes for the novel subtype AIVs. Our study revealed that H7N9, H9N2, and H5N1 can serve as stable and persistent gene pools for AIVs in the YRD and South-Central regions of China. Novel AIV subtypes might be generated continuously by reassortment. These AIVs may have obtained human-type receptor-binding abilities from their donors and prefer binding to them, which can cause human epidemics through accidental spillover infections. Facing the continual threat of emerging avian influenza, constant monitoring of AIVs should be conducted closely for agricultural and public health.     

从我国人群中再次分离到H9N2亚型流感病毒

目的 了解分离流感病毒毒株表面抗原亚型和特性及其来源。方法 病毒通过ＭＤＣＫ细胞分离,用红细胞凝集抑制（ＨＩ）和神经氨酸酶抑制（ＮＩ）测定对病毒株表面抗原进行鉴定和特性分析,人血清中抗体测定采用ＨＩ和中和实验。对患者进行个」案调查。结果 分离物为甲型流感病毒Ｈ９Ｎ２亚型,属Ｇ９类似毒株,它的ＨＡ抗原特性与已经从人、鸡和鸽分离到的Ｈ９Ｎ２亚型毒株均有差异。患者恢复期血清对分离物的ＨＩ抗体滴度为４００     

Outbreaks of avian influenza H6N2 viruses in chickens arose by a reassortment of H6N8 and H9N2 ostrich viruses

The first recorded outbreak of avian influenza (AI) in South African chickens (low pathogenicity H6N2) occurred at Camperdown, KwaZulu/Natal Province (KZN) in June 2002. To determine the source of the outbreak, we defined the phylogenetic relationships between various H6N2 isolates, and the previously unpublished gene sequences of an H6N8 virus isolated in 1998 from ostriches in the Leeu Gamka region (A/Ostrich/South Africa/KK98/98). We demonstrated that two distinct genetic H6N2 lineages (sub-lineages I and II) circulated in the Camperdown area, which later spread to other regions. Sub-lineages I and II shared a recent common H6N2 ancestor, which arose from a reassortment event between two South African ostrich isolates A/Ostrich/South Africa/9508103/95 and (H9N2) A/Ostrich/South Africa/KK98/98 (H6N8). Furthermore, the H6N2 sub-lineage I viruses had several molecular genetic markers including a 22-amino acid stalk deletion in the neuraminidase (NA) protein gene, a predicted increased N-glycosylation, and a D¹⁴⁴ mutation of the HA protein gene, all of which are associated with the adaptation of AI viruses to chickens. The H6N2 NS1 and PB1 genes shared recent common ancestors with those of contemporary Asian HPAI H5N1 viruses. Our results suggest that ostriches are potential mixing vessels for avian influenza viruses (AIV) outbreak strains and support other reports that H6 viruses are capable of forming stable lineages in chickens. The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the GenBank nucleotide sequence database and have been assigned the accession numbers DQ408506-DQ408529.     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对H9N2猪流感病毒所致急性肺损伤小鼠的保护作用*

 目的： 探讨N-乙酰半胱氨酸（NAC）对H9N2猪流感病毒所致急性肺损伤小鼠的保护作用。方法: 采用BALB/c小鼠建立H9N2猪流感病毒诱导的急性肺损伤模型。实验小鼠在接种病毒前1 h腹腔注射NAC（10 mg/kg,稀释于生理盐水）,此后连续使用5 d。检测肺湿重与干重比变化,评估肺水肿情况,观察肺组织的病理学变化,检测支气管肺泡灌洗液内炎症细胞、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素6（IL-6）及白细胞介素1β（IL-1β）的变化,同时检测肺组织匀浆中病毒的增殖、总超氧化物歧化酶（T-SOD）和髓过氧化物酶（MPO）活性以及丙二醛(MDA)含量。结果: NAC能降低小鼠死亡率,延长小鼠存活时间,显著降低肺组织的病理学变化和肺水肿程度,并能降低巨噬细胞、淋巴细胞和中性粒细胞等炎症细胞的数量,同时降低TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β和MDA的含量,抑制MPO的活性以及升高 T-SOD的活性。结论: NAC减轻H9N2猪流感病毒诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤,其保护作用可能与减轻氧化应激作用和炎症反应相关。     

Generation and characterisation of monoclonal antibodies specific to avian influenza H7N9 haemagglutinin protein

Introduction: Emerging virulent strains of influenza virus pose a serious public health threat with potential pandemic consequences. A novel avian influenza virus, H7N9, breached the species barrier from infected domestic poultry to humans in 2013 in China. Since then, it has caused numerous infections in humans with a close contact to poultry. Materials and Methods: In this study, we describe the preliminary characterisation of five murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) developed against recombinant haemagglutinin (rHA) protein of avian H7N9 A/Anhui/1/2013 virus by their Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reactivity and binding affinity. Results: Of the five MAbs, four were highly specific to H7N9 HA and did not show any cross-reactivity in ELISA with rHA protein from pandemic as well as seasonal H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, H5N1 and influenza virus B (B/Brisbane/60/2008). However, one of the MAbs, MA-24, in addition to HA protein of H7N9 also reacted strongly with HA protein of H3N2 and weakly with HA of pandemic and seasonal H1N1 and H2N2. All the five MAbs also reacted with H7N9 rHA in Western blot. The MAbs bound H7N9 rHA with an equilibrium dissociation constant (K_D) ranging between 0.14 and 25.20 nM, indicating their high affinity to HA. Conclusions: These antibodies may be useful in developing diagnostic tools for the detection of influenza H7N9 virus infections.     

2009甲型H1N1疫苗株与普通季节性H1N1疫苗株在呼吸道细胞中感染效率的比较

 摘要：目的 探讨2009甲型H1N1疫苗株与季节性H1N1疫苗株在人呼吸道细胞中感染效率的差异。方法 用间接免疫荧光法检测H1N1病毒感染A549、CNE-2Z、H1650、Hep-2和MRC-5细胞的效率;用间接免疫荧光法检测抑制因子对H1N1病毒侵入细胞的影响。结果 （1）2009甲型H1N1疫苗株感染人呼吸道细胞的效率：H1650>A549>CNE-2Z>MRC-5>Hep-2;季节性H1N1疫苗株感染人呼吸道细胞的效率A549>CNE-2Z>H1650>MRC-5>Hep-2;（2）2009甲型H1N1疫苗株和季节性H1N1疫苗株均依赖于内吞作用进入细胞。结论 在A549细胞中,季节性H1N1疫苗株的感染效率明显高于甲型H1N1疫苗株;在H1650细胞中,甲型H1N1疫苗株的感染效率明显高于季节性H1N1疫苗株。     

Continuing evolution of H9 influenza viruses in Korean poultry

We analyzed the evolution of H9 influenza viruses isolated from Korean chicken farms from 2002 to 2004. Korean H9 viruses formed two antigenically distinct groups: those isolated from 1996 to mid-2003, and those isolated from late 2003 through 2004. Most of the 2004 isolates showed greater cross-reactivity with the second group than with the first group. Phylogenetic analysis of the 12 viruses studied revealed three genotypes of H9N2 viruses and showed that reassortment had occurred. One isolate, Ck/Kor/164/04, belonged to the H9N8 subtype. Its HA and PB1 genes were similar to those of the H9N2 viruses, but its other genes were closely related to H3N8 viruses. This report is the first (to our knowledge) of H9N8 infection in this host. The pathogenicity of the early isolates altered due to antigenic drift and reassortment, leading to H9 avian influenza viruses in Korea that potentially can expand their host range to mammalians.     

Isolation and characterization of H6N1 and H9N2 avian influenza viruses from Ducks in Hanoi, Vietnam

We report the genetic characterization of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses isolated from domestic ducks in northern Vietnam in 2009. In total, 22 influenza A viruses consisting of 21 H6N1 subtypes and one H9N2 subtype were isolated from 1488 ducks collected in February, March, and April 2009, accounting the overall virus isolation rate for 1.5%. No H5N1 strain was isolated in this study. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all the eight genes of the H6N1 and H9N2 subtypes analyzed in this study were similar to those isolated in Korea, southeast China and northern Japan, and wild birds which migrate along the coastal East Asian Flyway are estimated to transmit these viruses. There was no evidence that the H6N1 and H9N2 subtypes share the gene segments with H5N1 subtypes. However, it is important to monitor the prevalence and genetical backgrounds of LPAI viruses among poultry in an area where several different influenza A subtypes are in circulation.     

Swine infection with H9N2 influenza viruses in China in 2004

In 2004, H9N2 influenza A viruses were isolated from pigs with respiratory syndrome in commercial swine farms in Henan province, China. Antigenic and genetic characterization were performed for seven swine H9N2 influenza viruses. The hemagglutinin antigenicity of swine H9N2 viruses was similar to those of avian H9N2 viruses of A/duck/Hong Kong/Y280/1997 (Dk/HK/Y280/97)-like sublineage prevalent in China. It is noteworthy that the neuraminidase of these isolates had no deletions in the stalk, which was seldom observed in those viruses of Dk/HK/Y280/97-like sublineage. Genetic analysis revealed that all seven isolates had an -R-S-S-R- motif at the HA cleavage site, which was the same as those of Dk/HK/Y280/97-like viruses established in avian population in China. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the seven swine H9N2 viruses were completely derived from avian influenza viruses of Dk/HK/Y280/97-like sublineage. The present results indicated that avian-to-pig interspecies transmission of H9N2 viruses continued to exist in China through 2004; therefore, surveillance of swine influenza should be given a high priority. Yan-Long Cong, Chun-Feng Wang and Chun-Mei Yan have contributed equally to this work. (i) All the authors have agreed to its submission and are responsible for its contents and (ii) all the authors have agreed that Yanlong Cong may act on their behalf regarding any subsequent processing of the paper.     

Genetic analysis of nonstructural genes (NS1 and NS2) of H9N2 and H5N1 viruses recently isolated in Israel

The avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 affects wild birds, domestic poultry, swine, and humans; it has circulated amongst domestic poultry in Israel during the last 6 years. The H5N1 virus was recorded in Israel for the first time in March 2006. Nonstructural (NS) genes and NS proteins are important in the life cycle of the avian influenza viruses. In the present study, NS genes of 21 examples of H9N2 and of two examples of H5N1 avian influenza viruses, isolated in Israel during 2000–2006, were completely sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. All the H9N2 isolates fell into a single group that, in turn, was subdivided into three subgroups in accordance with the time of isolation; their NS1 and NS2 proteins possessed 230 and 121 amino acids, respectively. The NS1 protein of the H5N1 isolates had five amino acid deletions, which was typical of highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses isolated in various countries during 2005–2006. Comparative analysis showed that the NS proteins of the H9N2 Israeli isolates contained few amino acid sequences associated with high pathogenicity or human host specificity.