Influenza Viruses Suitable for Studies in Syrian Hamsters |
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| Authors: | Shufang Fan Chunyang Gu Huihui Kong Lizheng Guan Gabriele Neumann Yoshihiro Kawaoka |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (S.F.); (C.G.); (H.K.); (L.G.); (G.N.);2.Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan;3.Research Center for Global Viral Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Several small animal models, including mice, Syrian hamsters, guinea pigs, and ferrets are used to study the pathogenicity, transmissibility, and antigenicity of seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses. Moreover, animal models are essential for vaccination and challenge studies to evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of new vaccines. However, authentic human influenza viruses do not always replicate efficiently in these animal models. Previously, we developed a high-yield A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8-HY) vaccine virus backbone that conferred an increased virus yield to several seasonal influenza vaccines in eukaryotic cells and embryonated chicken eggs. Here, we show that this PR8-HY genetic backbone also increases the replication of several seasonal influenza viruses in Syrian hamsters compared to the authentic viruses. Therefore, the PR8-HY backbone is useful for animal studies to assess the biological properties of influenza viral HA and NA. |
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| Keywords: | influenza virus replication Syrian hamster |
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