Characterization of H5N1 influenza A viruses isolated during the 2003-2004 influenza outbreaks in Japan

In Japan, between the end of December 2003 and March 2004, four outbreaks of acute, highly transmissible and lethal disease occurred in birds in three prefectures separated by 150-450 km, involving three chicken farms and a group of chickens raised as pets. The cause of each outbreak was an H5N1 influenza A virus-the first highly pathogenic virus to be isolated from the outbreaks in Japan since 1925. The H5N1 virus was also isolated from dead crows, apparently infected by contact with virus-contaminated material. These H5N1 viruses were antigenically similar to each other, but could be differentiated from other H5 viruses, including those isolated from Hong Kong in 1997 and 2003, by use of a panel of monoclonal antibodies in hemagglutination inhibition assays. Genetically, the H5N1 viruses in Japan were closely related to each other in all genes and were genetically closely related to a single isolate of genotype V that was isolated in 2003 in the Guandong Province of mainland China (A/chicken/Shantou/4231/2003). The virulence of the index isolate (A/chicken/Yamaguchi/7/2004) was studied in chickens and mice. Chickens intravenously or intranasally inoculated with the isolate died within 1 or 3 days of inoculation, respectively. In mice, although this virus replicated well in the lung without prior adaptation and spread to the brain, the dose lethal to 50% of the mice was 5 x 10(5) 50% egg infectious doses (EID50), which is less pathogenic than the Hong Kong 1997 H5N1 viruses isolated from humans. Our findings indicate that the H5N1 viruses associated with the influenza outbreaks in chickens in Japan were genotypically closely related to an H5N1 virus isolated from chicken in China in 2003 (genotype V), but were different from those prevalent in southeastern Asia in 2003-2004 (i.e., genotype Z) and that these highly pathogenic viruses can be transmitted to crows, which are highly susceptible to these viruses.     

Phylogenetic characterization of H5N1 avian influenza viruses isolated in Indonesia from 2003-2007

The wide distribution of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses is a global threat to human health. Indonesia has had the largest number of human infections and fatalities caused by these viruses. To understand the enzootic conditions of the viruses in Indonesia, twenty-four H5N1 viruses isolated from poultry from 2003 to 2007 were phylogenetically characterized. Although previous studies exclusively classified the Indonesian viruses into clades 2.1.1-2.1.3, our phylogenetic analyses showed a new sublineage that did not belong to any of the present clades. In addition, novel reassortant viruses were identified that emerged between this new sublineage and other clades in 2005-2006 on Java Island. H5N1 viruses were introduced from Java Island to Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Sumatra Island on multiple occasions from 2003-2007, causing the geographical expansion of these viruses in Indonesia. These findings identify Java Island as the epicenter of the Indonesian H5N1 virus expansion.     

Isolation of a genotypically unique H5N1 influenza virus from duck meat imported into Japan from China

An H5N1 influenza A virus was isolated from duck meat processed for human consumption, imported to Japan from Shandong Province, China in 2003. This virus was antigenically different from other H5 viruses, including the Hong Kong H5N1 viruses isolated from humans in 1997 and 2003. Sequence analysis revealed that six genes (PB1, PA, HA, NA, M, and NS) of this virus showed >97% nucleotide identity with their counterparts from recent H5N1 viruses, but that the remaining two genes (PB2 and NP) were derived from other unknown viruses. This duck meat isolate was highly pathogenic to chickens upon intravenous or intranasal inoculation, replicated well in the lungs of mice and spread to the brain, but was not as pathogenic in mice as H5N1 human isolates (with a dose lethal to 50% of mice (MLD50)=5x10(6) 50% egg infectious doses [EID50]). However, viruses isolated from the brain of mice previously infected with the virus were substantially more pathogenic (MLD50=approximately 10(2) EID50) and possessed some amino acid substitutions relative to the original virus. These results show that poultry products contaminated with influenza viruses of high pathogenic potential to mammals are a threat to public health even in countries where the virus is not enzootic and represent a possible source of influenza outbreaks in poultry.     

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     

Immune responses to infection with H5N1 influenza virus

Influenza A H5N1 viruses remain a substantial threat to global public health. In particular, the expanding genetic diversity of H5N1 viruses and the associated risk for human adaptation underscore the importance of better understanding host immune responses that may protect against disease or infection. Although much emphasis has been placed on investigating early virus–host interactions and the induction of innate immune responses, little is known of the consequent adaptive immune response to H5N1 virus infection. In this review, we describe the H5N1 virus-specific and cross-reactive antibody and T cell responses in humans and animal models. Data from limited studies suggest that although initially robust, there is substantial waning of the serum antibody responses in survivors of H5N1 virus infection. Characterization of monoclonal antibodies generated from memory B cells of survivors of H5N1 virus infection has provided an understanding of the fine specificity of the human antibody response to H5N1 virus infection and identified strategies for immunotherapy. Human T cell responses induced by infection with seasonal influenza viruses are directed to relatively conserved internal proteins and cross-react with the H5N1 subtype. A role for T cell-based heterosubtypic immunity against H5N1 viruses is suggested in animal studies. Further studies on adaptive immune responses to H5N1 virus infection in both humans and animals are needed to inform the design of optimal immunological treatment and prevention modalities.     

Phylogenetic analysis of low pathogenicity H5N1 and H7N3 influenza A virus isolates recovered from sentinel, free flying, wild mallards at one study site during 2006

From August 2 to October 11, 2006, clusters of low pathogenicity (LP) North American lineage H5N1 and H7N3 avian influenza A viruses (AIV), and other subtypes, were recovered from free-flying, resident, wild mallards used as sentinels at one site. The antigenic subtypes, pathogenicity potential, and Sanger sequencing of the isolates determined the H5N1 and H7N3 isolates were only recovered from samples collected on 8/2/2006 and 9/8/2006, respectively. However, subsequent efforts using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and additional Sanger sequencing found partial H7 segments in other HA-NA virus combinations on 8/2/2006, 9/8/2006 and 10/11/2006. It is well established that over larger geographic areas and years AIVs form transient genomic constellations; this sequential sampling data revealed that over a short period of time the dynamics of AIVs can be active and newer sequencing platforms increase recognition of mixed infections. Both findings provide further insight into the natural history of AIVs in natural reservoirs.     

利用反向遗传学技术构建H5N9重组流感病毒株

目的 利用反向遗传学技术构建来源人感染禽流感病毒H5N1和H7N9 HA和NA基因的H5N9亚型禽流感病毒.方法 全基因合成A/Beijing/01/2003(H5N1)禽流感病毒HA基因片段和A/Zhejiang/DTID-ZJU10/2013(H7N9)禽流感病毒NA基因片段,插入到pHW2000载体,与携带有A/Puerto Rico/8/34(H1N1)的6个内部基因的pHW2000重组质粒一起转染293T和MDCK混合细胞,拯救H5N9重组病毒.结果 核酸测序、HA和NA基因转录和表达检测、细胞病变分析确定利用该反向遗传学系统可以成功拯救H5N9病毒.重组H5N9病毒在MDCK细胞上复制增殖能力低于相同方法拯救H1N1病毒.结论 利用反向遗传学技术成功构建一株H5N9重组病毒.     

2011-2014年青岛地区甲型H3N2流感病毒基因进化分析

目的 了解2011-2014年青岛地区人群甲型H3N2流感病毒流行株基因进化及抗原变异趋势.方法 选取2011-2014年间青岛地区流行的甲型H3N2流感病毒64株,提取病毒RNA,应用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)扩增HA、NA、MP 3个基因片段,并进行序列测定,对各基因片段进行系统发育分析及基因和氨基酸位点变异分析.结果 HA进化树分析表明,甲型H3N2流感病毒基本上分为三大分支,并且每个分支与当年的疫苗株都不在同一分支上;HA1蛋白抗原决定簇共有8个位点发生了变化;NA蛋白酶活性中心及周围相关位点氨基酸组成保守,未检测到耐奥司他韦和扎那米韦的变异位点.M2蛋白均发生S31N突变.结论 2011-2014年青岛地区流行的H3N2流感病毒在持续不断地发生基因变异而产生抗原漂移;毒株全部为烷胺类药物耐药株,但对神经氨酸酶抑制剂敏感.     

Infection and replication of avian influenza H5N1 virus in an infected human

The highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses usually cause severe diseases and high mortality in infected humans. However, the tissue tropism and underlying pathogenesis of H5N1 virus infection in humans have not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, an autopsy was conducted to better understand H5N1 virus distributions in tissues of infected humans, and whether H5N1 virus can replicate in extrapulmonary tissues. We found that the lungs had the higher viral load than the spleen, whereas no detectable viruses in tissues of heart, liver, kidney, large intestine, small intestine, or brain. Specifically, the viral load was higher in the left lung (7.1 log10 copies per ml) in relation to the right lung (5.7 log10 copies per ml), resulting in more severe pathological damage in the left lung, and lung tissues contained both positive- and negative-stranded viral RNA. However, there existed a low level of H5N1 viruses in the spleen (3.8 log10 copies per ml), with the absence of positive-stranded viral RNA. Our results indicate that replication of H5N1 viruses mainly occurs in the lungs, and the degree of lung damage is highly correlated with the viral load in the lungs. The low-load viruses in the spleen might be introduced through blood circulation or other ways. Jing-Jiao Zhou and Dan-Yun Fang equally contributed to this work.     

Modulation of the severity of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza in chickens previously inoculated with Israeli H9N2 influenza viruses

The continued evolution of H9N2 and H5N1 viruses and their spread and re-emergence across Eurasia raise concern that prior H9N2 virus infection may limit the detection of subsequent H5N1 infection in gallinaceous poultry by attenuating the severity of disease. We show that H9N2 viruses isolated from Israeli turkeys during 2000-2004 were antigenically and genetically distinguishable. These three H9N2 viruses caused no overt signs of disease in chickens. The 2004 isolate replicated and spread most efficiently, and chickens previously inoculated with this H9N2 virus showed 90%-100% survival after inoculation 1 to 35 days later with lethal H5N1 virus. Chickens that survived did not show signs of disease but did shed lethal H5N1 virus from the cloaca. The modulation of survivability was time-dependent; the effect was maximal 5 days after H9N2 inoculation. These findings suggest that co-circulation of H9N2 viruses can contribute to the spread of lethal H5N1 viruses.     

Genetic characterization of two low pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 isolates from Ontario, Canada

Genomes of two low pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (LPAI) viruses, A/Turkey/ON/84/1983 and A/Mallard/ON/499/2005 from Ontario, Canada were cloned and genetically characterized. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Canadian isolates cluster with other North American AIVs and are distinct from the Euro-Asian H5N1 isolates. Individual gene comparisons demonstrated that the Ontario isolates were most similar to the viruses isolated from around the same time period and geographical area. A long deletion of 22 amino acids was identified in the stalk region of NA of A/Turkey/ON/84/1983 isolate, a characteristic mutation related to its adaptation to domestic birds. To our knowledge A/Turkey/ON/84/1983 genomic sequence is the first and only available entire genomic sequence of a H5N1 AIV from domestic birds in Canada and USA. This work is a joint collaboration between the principal investigators Davor Ojkic and Shayan Sharif.     

从人分离出两株甲型流感H9N2亚型毒株内部基因特性的研究

目的 了解2株从人分离出的H9N2亚型毒株内部基因特性，并弄清其来源。方法 用RT-PCR扩增目的基因，用P^CEM-T Vector(美国Promega公司)，4℃过夜连接，重组质粒转入dH5a细菌，筛选阳性菌落，酶切鉴定，送六合通公司自动测序。然后进行进化树分析。结果 2株测定毒株内部基因均为G9基因系，它们相互间除PA基因有差异外，其余5个基因均相同。结论 2株测定毒株的基因组均为G9基因系，它们是由携带不同基因特性H9N2毒株的禽群分别直接感染人，而不是来自同一禽的H9N2亚型流感病毒。     

Molecular signatures of virulence in the PB1-F2 proteins of H5N1 influenza viruses

The PB1-F2 protein of influenza A viruses contributes to pathogenesis in animal models. Specific molecular signatures of virulence within PB1-F2 have been mapped for some functions. The 66S polymorphism may modulate interferon activity, and four C-terminal amino acids, 62L, 75R, 79R, and 82L, contribute to cytokine release and inflammatory responses in specific virus backgrounds. All available PB1-F2 sequences from H5N1 subtype influenza A viruses were analyzed. The majority (82.5%) of H5N1 sequences available in the Influenza Research Database code for PB1-F2 proteins with 4 or more of these virulence associated amino acids. Most of these are avian sequences from highly pathogenic strains isolated in Asia or Africa. The 66S polymorphism was uncommon (5.3% of sequences) but was found in association with the other 4 inflammatory amino acids in select highly pathogenic strains in Asia. These analyses suggest that if an H5N1 virus were to emerge as a pandemic strain, the PB1-F2 protein will be a contributor to pathogenesis. Research on the pathogenic effect of these signatures in an H5N1 background should be undertaken. Surveillance efforts should include sequencing of the PB1 gene segment and analysis for these molecular signatures to allow for the potential prioritization of resources during pandemic planning.     

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.     

广州地区禽H9N2亚型流感病毒的发现及感染人调查

目的 了解广州地区禽流感病毒在家禽中的流行及感染人的情况，防止香港H5N1禽流感在广州地区流行。方法 对广州地区的主要鸡场和农贸市场的家禽和密切接触家禽的职业人群进行病原学和血清学的检测。病毒分离同时采用MDCK细胞和鸡胚双腔接种法；采用微量血凝抑制半致敏法进行血清学检测。结果 从54份鸡咽拭液中分离到1株H9N2亚型流感病毒；鸡及职业人群血对分离的H9N2毒株的血抑抗体阳性率分别为12．8％和15．1％。结论 广州地区鸡群中有H9N2，亚型流感病毒存在，禽H9N2亚型流感病毒能感染人。     

Surface glycoproteins of influenza A H3N2 virus modulate virus replication in the respiratory tract of ferrets

The hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the influenza A H3N2 subtype viruses isolated from 1968 to 2010 have evolved substantially but their neuraminidase (NA) genes have been relatively less divergent. The H3N2 viruses isolated since 1995 were found to replicate in the lower respiratory tract of ferrets less efficiently than the earlier isolates. To evaluate whether the HA or/and NA or the internal protein gene segments of the H3N2 virus affected viral replication in the respiratory tract of ferrets, recombinant A/California/07/2004 (CA04) (H3N2) virus and its reassortants that contained the same CA04 internal protein gene segments and the HA and/or NA of A/Udorn/309/1972 (UD72) or A/Wuhan/359/1995 (WH95) H3N2 viruses were generated and evaluated for their replication in the respiratory tract of ferrets. All the reassortant viruses replicated efficiently in the upper respiratory tract of ferrets, but their replication in the lower respiratory tract of ferrets varied. In contrast to the UD72-HA reassortant virus that replicated efficiently in the lungs of ferrets, the virus with the WH95-HA or the CA04-HA either replicated modestly or did not replicate in the lungs of ferrets. The reassortants with the WH95-HA and UD72-NA or CA04-NA had the tendency to lose a N-linked glycosylation site at residue 246 in the HA, resulting in viral lung titer of 100-fold higher than the virus with the HA and NA from WH95. The UD72-NA had the highest neuraminidase activity and increased viral replication by up to 100-fold in tissue culture cells during early infection. Thus, our data indicate that both the HA and NA glycoproteins play important roles in viral replication of the H3N2 influenza virus in ferrets.     

人感染高致病性禽流感病毒H5N1尸体解剖病理分析

目的探讨人感染禽流感死亡病例尸体解剖组织的病理学特征。方法尸体解剖1例人感染H5NI高致病性禽流感病毒死亡病例,对其心、肺、肝、脾、肾和大脑等组织进行光镜观察,对肺组织进行了组织化学和免疫组织化学表型以及电镜观察。结果人感染禽流感的主要病变为双肺弥漫性肺泡损伤,透明膜形成,以及多灶性出血。肺泡腔内充满淡红粉染物（即水肿液）和不等量的各种炎细胞,炎细胞以淋巴细胞、单核细胞、浆细胞和少许中性粒细胞以及吞噬细胞为主。肺泡壁血管广泛性扩张淤血,部分肺泡壁透明膜形成。免疫组织化学染色显示：炎细胞主要以T淋巴细胞和单核细胞为主。结论人感染禽流感病理形态学改变以肺部最明显,主要为双肺弥漫性肺泡损伤,急性弥漫性渗出性病变,渗出的细胞以T淋巴细胞和单核细胞为主。肺部广泛性实变、肺水肿、肺出血导致呼吸窘迫是本病的主要死因。