TORCH综合征与先天性畸形

近年来,先天性感染引起新生儿畸形死亡的人数日益增加, Ｔ Ｏ Ｒ Ｃ Ｈ 是一组能引起先天性感染的病原微生物。１９７１ 年 Ｎａｈｍ ｉａｓ 等将引起先天性感染的病原体用英文字头命名,称为 Ｔ Ｏ Ｒ Ｃ Ｈ 感染或 Ｔ Ｏ Ｒ Ｃ Ｈ 综合征。 Ｔ 代表弓形体（ Ｔｏｘｏｐｌａｓｍ ａ ｇｏｎｄｉｉ, Ｔ Ｏ Ｘ Ｏ）, Ｏ为其它（ Ｏｔｈｅｒ,包括很多种病毒）, Ｒ 表示风疹病毒（ Ｒｕｂｅｌｌａ ｖｉｒｕｓ）, Ｃ代表巨细胞病毒（ Ｃｙｔｏｍ ｅｇａｌｏｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｃ Ｍ Ｖ）, Ｈ 表示单纯疱疹病毒（ Ｈｅｒｐｅｓ ｓｉｍ ｐｌｅｘ ｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｈ Ｓ Ｖ）。随着病原微生物学、免疫学和流行性病学研究的进展,又发现了多种能引起先天性感染的病原微生物,如水痘--带状疱疹病毒（ Ｖａｒｉｃｅｌｌａ ｚｏｓｔｅｒ ｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｖ Ｚ Ｖ）,麻疹病毒（ Ｍｅａｓｌｅｓ ｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｍ Ｖ）, 流 行性腮 腺炎 病毒（ Ｐａｒｏｔｉｔｉｓ ｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｐ Ｖ）, 人类免 疫缺 陷病毒 （ Ｈｕｍ ａｎｉｍ ｍ ｕｎｏｄｅｆｉｃｉｅｎｃｙ ｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｈ Ｉ Ｖ）,丙型肝炎病毒（ Ｈｅｐａｔｉｔｉｓ Ｃ ｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｈ Ｃ Ｖ）,人类疱疹病毒６型（ Ｈｕｍ ａｎ ｈｅｒｐｅｓ ｖｉｒｕｓ ｔｙｐｅ ６, Ｈ Ｈ Ｖ ６）,肠道病毒（ Ｅｎｔｅｒｏｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｅ Ｖ）,乙型肝炎病毒（ Ｈｅｐａｔｉｔｉｓ Ｂ ｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｈ Ｂ Ｖ）,人类乳头瘤病毒（ Ｈｕｍ ａｎ ｐａｐｉｌｌｏｍ ａｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｈ Ｐ Ｖ）, Ｅ Ｂ 病毒（ Ｅｐｓｔｅｉｎ Ｂａｒｒ ｖｉｒｕｓ, Ｅ Ｂ Ｖ）,人类微小病毒 Ｂ１９（ Ｈｕｍ ａｎ ｐａｒｖｏｖｉｒｕｓ Ｂ１９, Ｈ Ｐ Ｖ Ｂ１９）和人类嗜血细胞病毒１ 型（ Ｈ Ｔ Ｌ Ｖ １）等。 Ｔ Ｏ Ｒ Ｃ Ｈ 感染的特点是孕妇患其中任何一种疾病后,本人的症状极其轻微,或根本没有症状和特征。病原体虽不相同,却能使胎儿或新生儿出现相同或相似的临床表现,有时还很严重,甚至导致死亡。如在怀孕早期感染,则发生流产、死胎和胎儿畸形。中晚期感染,导致胎儿不同程度畸形和脏器损害。     

黄地老虎颗粒体病毒DNA片段的克隆与颗粒体蛋白基因的定位

用ｐＵＣ１９质粒作载体,克隆了黄地老虎颗粒体病毒（Ａｇｒｏｌｉｓｓｅｇｅｔｕｍｇｒａｎｕｌｏｓｉｓｖｉｒｕｓ,简称ＡｓＧＶ）ＤＮＡＰｓｔＩ－Ｄ．Ｅ．Ｆ．Ｇ．Ｈ．Ｊ．Ｋ．等７个片段。以［￣（３２）Ｐ］－ｄＣＴＰ标记的油桐尺蠖核型多角体病毒（Ｂｕｚｕｒａｓｕｐｐｒｅｓｓａｒｉａｎｕｃｌｃａｒｐｏｌｙｈｅｄｒｏｓｉｓｖｉｒｕｓ简称ＢｓＮＰＶ）多角体蛋白基因为探针,在３７℃条件下对ＡｓＧＶ）颗粒体蛋白基因进行了定位,将其分别定位于ＢｓｌⅡ－Ｓ或ＴＰｓＴＩ－Ａ或Ｂ和ＥｃｉＲＩ－Ａ片段上。     

苜蓿尺蠖核型多角体病毒囊膜蛋白

苜蓿尺蠖核型多角体病毒（ Ａｕｔｏｇｒａｐｈａ ｃａｌｉｆｏｒｎｉｃａ ｎｕｃｌｅａｒ ｐｏｌｙｈｅｄｒｏｓｉｓ ｖｉｒｕｓ,ＡｃＭＮＰＶ）在细胞质中合成其囊膜蛋白,但在细胞核内组装并包埋病毒粒子,这些蛋白的核定向转运机制是人们甚感兴趣的课题。以ＡｃＭＮＰＶ多角体衍生型病毒ＯＤＶ（ｏｃｃｌｕｓｉｏｎ－ｄｅｒｉｖｅｄ ｖｉｒｕｓ,ＯＤＶ）的一种囊膜蛋白ＯＤＶ－Ｅ１８为对象,通过Ｅ１８与一个标记短肽Ｆ     

栗菌低毒力dsRNA与协菌病毒dsRNA的序列同源性

以我国栗疫菌（Ｃｒｙｐｈｏｎｅｃｔｒｉａ（＝Ｅｎｄｏｔｈｉａ）ｐａｒａｓｉｔｉｃａ）低毒力菌株ＥｐＣ１４０（广西）的（γ－＾３２Ｐ）ＡＴＰ末端标记ｄｓＲＮＡ作探针,与５种真菌病毒ｄｓＲＮＡ进行分子杂交。探针可与紫孢侧耳病毒（Ｐｌｅｕｒｏｔｕｓ ｓａｐｉｄｕｓ ｖｉｒｕｓ）和小麦全蚀菌病毒（Ｇａｅｕｍａｎ－ｎｏｍｙｃｅｓ ｇｒａｍｉｎｉｓ．ｖｉｒｕｓ）的ｄｓＲＮＡ杂交,但不能与黑曲霉病毒（Ｐｙｒｉｃ     

用显微切割技术和催化信号扩增法检测何杰金病瘤细胞（H／RS）中的 …

为明确何杰金病（Ｈｏｄｇｋｉｎ’ｓ ｄｉｓｅａｓｅ,ＨＤ）瘤细胞中是否存在人巨细胞病毒（ｈｕｍａｎ ｃｙｔｏｍｅｇａｌｏｖｉｒｕｓ,ＨＣＭＶ）感染,采用显微切割技术结合ＰＣＲ方法检测ＨＤ组织及其瘤细胞Ｈｏｄｇｋｉｎ／Ｒｅｅｄ－Ｓｔｅｒｎｂｅｒｇ（Ｈ／ＲＳ）中的ＨＣＭＶ核酸;采用免疫组织化学催化信号扩增（ｃａｔａｌｙｓｅｄ ｓｉｇｎａｌ ａｍｐｌｉｆｉｃａｔｉｏｎ,ＣＳＡ）法检测ＨＤ中ＨＣＭＶ的立即     

HcNPV半胱氨酸蛋白酶,几丁质酶基因失活分析

将含有美国白蛾核型多角体病毒（Ｈｙｐｈａｎｔｒｉａ ｃｕｍｅａ ｎｕｃｌｅａｒ ｐｏｌｙｈｅｄｒｏｓｉｓ ｖｉｒｕｓ,ＨｃＮＰＶ）半胱氨酸蛋白酶基因（ＣＰ）的自然和几丁质酶基因（ＣｈｉＡ）的片段克隆进ＰＣＲⅡ,构建了转移载体ｐＨｃＣＶｄｅｌ;将含有ＨｃＮＰＶ多角体蛋白全基因（ｐｏｌｈ）序列的片段插入到ｐＨｃＣＶｄｅｌ的ＥｃｏＲＩ位点,得到重组转移载体ｐＨｃＣＶｐｏｌｈ。通过重组转移载体与含有家蚕促     

汉滩病毒核壳蛋白（NP）在杆状病毒系统的表达及其免疫原性研究

应用杆状病毒表达载体成功地表达了汉滩病毒７６－１１８株（ＨＴＮＶ）核壳蛋白,将ＨＴＮＶＳ基因插入杆状病毒转染质粒ｐＡｃＹＭＩＢ的多角体基因启动子下游附近,与经Ｂｓｕ３６１酶切线性化的杆状病毒（ＡｃＶＥＰＡ）ＤＮＡ共同转染Ｓ１９细胞,经空斑筛选获得了高效表达ＮＰ的重组杆状病毒（ＡｃＶＨａｎＳ）。经ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ证实,表达产物与ＨＴＮＶ毒粒ＮＰ分子量均为５０ＫＤ左右,紫外扫     

猪瘟病毒弱毒株感染对体外培养细胞增殖的促进作用*

猪瘟病毒（ＣＳＦＶ）能在多种体外培养细胞中增殖,却不使细胞产生病变（ＣＰＥ）。使用原代细胞增殖ＣＳＦＶ弱毒疫苗。结果显示：病毒的增殖能够增加原代牛睾丸细胞的传代次数和维持时间。因此,ＣＳＦＶ疫苗一产上能够在接毒后多次收获病毒。此外,ＣＳＦＶ弱毒株还能够刺激体外培养的兔巨噬细胞增殖,使形成致密的单细胞层。使用传代细胞ＰＫ１５样殖病毒,经流式细胞术检测发现ＣＳＦＶ弱毒的增殖不仅不改变ＰＫ１５细胞的增殖     

杆状病毒增效蛋白研究进展

昆虫杆状病毒增效蛋白（ｅｎｈａｎｃｉｎ）曾被称为病毒促进因子（ｓｙｎｅｒｇｉｓｔｉｃｆａｃｔｏｒ,ＳｙＦ）或病毒增效因子（ｖｉｒａｌｅｎｈａｎｃｉｎｇｆａｃｔｏｒ,ＶＥＦ）,它长期以来被认为只存在于昆虫颗粒体病毒（Ｇｒａｎｕｌｏｓｉｓｖｉｒｕｓ,ＧＶ）中的一类蛋白质,已知有８种ＧＶ中含有增效蛋白。自Ｔａｎａｄａ［１～４］１９５９年从美洲一星粘虫（Ｐｓｅｕｄａｌｅｔｉａｕｎｉｐｕｎｃｔａ,Ｐｕ）ＧＶ中分离出增效蛋白并证实它有增强ＰｕＭＮＰＶ的感染力后,一直很受人们关注。从它的作用机理到氨基酸序列…     

栗疫菌低毒力dsRNA与真菌病毒dsRNA的序列同源性

以我国栗疫菌［Ｃｒｙｐｈｏｎｅｃｔｒｉａ（＝Ｅｎｄｏｔｈｉａ）ｐａｒａｓｉｔｉｃａ］低毒力菌株ＥｐＣ１４０（广西）的［γ─￣３２Ｐ］ＡＴＰ末端标记ｄｓＲＮＡ作探针,与５种真菌病毒ｄｓＲＮＡ进行分子杂交。探针可与紫孢侧耳病毒（Ｐｌｅｕｒｏｔｕｓｓｅｐｉｄｕｓｖｉｕｓ）和小麦全蚀菌病毒（Ｇａｅｕｍａｎ─ｎｏｍｙｃｅｓｇｒａｍｉｎｉｓ·ｖｉｒｕｓ）的ｄｓＲＮＡ杂交,但不能与黑曲霉病毒（Ａｓｐｅｒｇｉｌｌｕｓｎｉｇｅｒｖｉｒｕｓ）、产黄青霉病毒（Ｐｅｎｉｃｉｌｌｉｕｍｃｈｒｙｓｏｇｅｎｕｍｖｉｒｕｓ）和稻瘟菌病毒（Ｐｙｒｉｃｕｌａｒｉａｏｒｙｚａｅｖｉｒｕｓ）的ｄｓＲＮＡ杂交。当以低毒力菌株ＥｐＣ３２（云南）作探针时,结果相同。     

Double-layer plaque assay for quantification of enteroviruses

We describe here a double-layer plaque assay for the quantification of enteroviruses, combining a monolayer plaque assay and a suspended-cell plaque assay. The double-layer assay provides significantly greater counts than other methods of virus quantification of both suspensions of pure culture viruses and naturally occurring viruses. The counts obtained by this method are approximately one order of magnitude greater than those obtained with the more commonly used method, the monolayer plaque assay. We conclude that the methods available for quantifying viruses rank in efficiency as follows: double-layer plaque assay >or=suspended-cell plaque assay > counting cytopathogenic virus adsorbed to cellulose nitrate membrane filters >or= most probable number of cytopathogenic units > monolayer plaque assay. Moreover, the double-layer plaque assay allows the use of two different cell lines in the two layers. Using the human colonic carcinoma cell line CaCo2 facilitates the recovery of a greater number and diversity of naturally occurring enteroviruses in water than the monolayer agar method. In addition, the pretreatment of cells with 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IDU) prior to the quantification of enteroviruses by the double-layer plaque assay provides significantly higher recoveries than the use of IDU does with the other methods of quantification.     

Influence of adsorption time, rocking, and soluble proteins on the plaque assay of monodispersed poliovirus.

Factors that could affect adsorption of monodispersed poliovirus to cell culture monolayers were evaluated. These included varying the virus adsorption period under static and nonstatic (rocked) conditions and altering the rocking rate. The effects of several soluble proteins on plaque formation, enumeration, and size were also evaluated. Rocking involved the mechanical spread of viruses over cell culture monolayers for 1 to 4 h. Rocked cultures exhibited significantly higher (P less than 0.05) plaque counts than corresponding static cultures. Optimal plaque counts were obtained after a 2-h adsorption period with rocking; increasing the period to 4 h did not significantly increase PFU. Optimal counts were not obtained until greater than or equal to 4 h with static adsorption. Plaque counts were not affected by increasing the rocking rate above one oscillation per minute, but a slower rocking rate resulted in a significant decrease in plaques. Adsorption of poliovirus in the presence of 3% solutions of beef and meat extracts, acid-precipitated oyster protein, two brands of skim milk, and 3 and 10% fetal bovine serum was compared with adsorption in protein-free controls. Significant reductions (P less than 0.05) in plaque counts occurred with one brand of skim milk, whereas 3% beef extract yielded highly significant reductions (P less than 0.01) in plaque counts and appreciable decreases in plaque sizes. Salinities of protein-containing virus inocula were high for beef and meat extracts but somewhat below physiological levels for the remaining inocula. Beef extract-associated reductions in PFU were eliminated after the extracts were dialyzed. Plaque reductions were associated with dialyzable components of the beef extract but not with the inoculum salinity.     

Influence of adsorption time, rocking, and soluble proteins on the plaque assay of monodispersed poliovirus

Factors that could affect adsorption of monodispersed poliovirus to cell culture monolayers were evaluated. These included varying the virus adsorption period under static and nonstatic (rocked) conditions and altering the rocking rate. The effects of several soluble proteins on plaque formation, enumeration, and size were also evaluated. Rocking involved the mechanical spread of viruses over cell culture monolayers for 1 to 4 h. Rocked cultures exhibited significantly higher (P less than 0.05) plaque counts than corresponding static cultures. Optimal plaque counts were obtained after a 2-h adsorption period with rocking; increasing the period to 4 h did not significantly increase PFU. Optimal counts were not obtained until greater than or equal to 4 h with static adsorption. Plaque counts were not affected by increasing the rocking rate above one oscillation per minute, but a slower rocking rate resulted in a significant decrease in plaques. Adsorption of poliovirus in the presence of 3% solutions of beef and meat extracts, acid-precipitated oyster protein, two brands of skim milk, and 3 and 10% fetal bovine serum was compared with adsorption in protein-free controls. Significant reductions (P less than 0.05) in plaque counts occurred with one brand of skim milk, whereas 3% beef extract yielded highly significant reductions (P less than 0.01) in plaque counts and appreciable decreases in plaque sizes. Salinities of protein-containing virus inocula were high for beef and meat extracts but somewhat below physiological levels for the remaining inocula. Beef extract-associated reductions in PFU were eliminated after the extracts were dialyzed. Plaque reductions were associated with dialyzable components of the beef extract but not with the inoculum salinity.     

Double-Layer Plaque Assay for Quantification of Enteroviruses

We describe here a double-layer plaque assay for the quantification of enteroviruses, combining a monolayer plaque assay and a suspended-cell plaque assay. The double-layer assay provides significantly greater counts than other methods of virus quantification of both suspensions of pure culture viruses and naturally occurring viruses. The counts obtained by this method are approximately one order of magnitude greater than those obtained with the more commonly used method, the monolayer plaque assay. We conclude that the methods available for quantifying viruses rank in efficiency as follows: double-layer plaque assay ≥ suspended-cell plaque assay > counting cytopathogenic virus adsorbed to cellulose nitrate membrane filters ≥ most probable number of cytopathogenic units > monolayer plaque assay. Moreover, the double-layer plaque assay allows the use of two different cell lines in the two layers. Using the human colonic carcinoma cell line CaCo2 facilitates the recovery of a greater number and diversity of naturally occurring enteroviruses in water than the monolayer agar method. In addition, the pretreatment of cells with 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (IDU) prior to the quantification of enteroviruses by the double-layer plaque assay provides significantly higher recoveries than the use of IDU does with the other methods of quantification.     

Replication of dengue, yellow fever, St. Louis encephalitis and vesicular stomatitis viruses in a cell line (TRA-171) derived from Toxorhynchites amboinensis

The replication of seven arboviruses in a cell line (TRA-171) derived from a nonhematophagous mosquito was studied. Four serotypes of laboratory adapted and three serotypes of unadapted dengue viruses replicated in the TRA-171 cell line, inducing syncytia. The sensitivity of TRA-171 cells to dengue virus infection was comparable to that of Aedes albopictus or A. pseudoscutellaris cells. Yellow fever, St. Louis encephalitis, and vesicular stomatitis viruses also replicated. All four serotypes of dengue viruses could be plaque assayed with TRA-171 cell cultures.     

Slow development of measles virus (Edmonston strain) infection in the brain of nude mice

The Edmonston strain of measles virus caused neurologic disease in athymic nude mice by intracerebral inoculation. The incubation periods of the disease, however, were extremely long, ranging from 59 to 140 days when the mice were inoculated with 10(4) plaque forming units (PFU) of the virus. The Edmonston strain was highly infectious in the nude mouse brain since virus infection was established even with 1 PFU of the virus. Virus titers in the brains of infected mice increased with the time of incubation. These results indicate that the extremely long incubation period of the disease is ascribed to very slow development of virus infection in the mouse brain. On the other hand, the incubation periods of the Biken strain of SSPE virus were very short (generally within 2 weeks) even with inoculations of 1 PFU of the virus. However, the extent of the dissemination of infection in brains was not significantly different between the two viruses as examined by immunofluorescent staining.     

Yellow fever virus/dengue-2 virus and yellow fever virus/dengue-4 virus chimeras: biological characterization,immunogenicity, and protection against dengue encephalitis in the mouse model

Two yellow fever virus (YFV)/dengue virus chimeras which encode the prM and E proteins of either dengue virus serotype 2 (dengue-2 virus) or dengue-4 virus within the genome of the YFV 17D strain (YF5.2iv infectious clone) were constructed and characterized for their properties in cell culture and as experimental vaccines in mice. The prM and E proteins appeared to be properly processed and glycosylated, and in plaque reduction neutralization tests and other assays of antigenic specificity, the E proteins exhibited profiles which resembled those of the homologous dengue virus serotypes. Both chimeric viruses replicated in cell lines of vertebrate and mosquito origin to levels comparable to those of homologous dengue viruses but less efficiently than the YF5.2iv parent. YFV/dengue-4 virus, but not YFV/dengue-2 virus, was neurovirulent for 3-week-old mice by intracerebral inoculation; however, both viruses were attenuated when administered by the intraperitoneal route in mice of that age. Single-dose inoculation of either chimeric virus at a dose of 10(5) PFU by the intraperitoneal route induced detectable levels of neutralizing antibodies against the homologous dengue virus strains. Mice which had been immunized in this manner were fully protected from challenge with homologous neurovirulent dengue viruses by intracerebral inoculation compared to unimmunized mice. Protection was associated with significant increases in geometric mean titers of neutralizing antibody compared to those for unimmunized mice. These data indicate that YFV/dengue virus chimeras elicit antibodies which represent protective memory responses in the mouse model of dengue encephalitis. The levels of neurovirulence and immunogenicity of the chimeric viruses in mice correlate with the degree of adaptation of the dengue virus strain to mice. This study supports ongoing investigations concerning the use of this technology for development of a live attenuated viral vaccine against dengue viruses.     

Grape seed extract for control of human enteric viruses

Grape seed extract (GSE) is reported to have many pharmacological benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antimicrobial properties. However, the effect of this inexpensive rich source of natural phenolic compounds on human enteric viruses has not been well documented. In the present study, the effect of commercial GSE, Gravinol-S, on the infectivity of human enteric virus surrogates (feline calicivirus, FCV-F9; murine norovirus, MNV-1; and bacteriophage MS2) and hepatitis A virus (HAV; strain HM175) was evaluated. GSE at concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/ml was individually mixed with equal volumes of each virus at titers of ～7 log(10) PFU/ml or ～5 log(10) PFU/ml and incubated for 2 h at room temperature or 37°C. The infectivity of the recovered viruses after triplicate treatments was evaluated by standardized plaque assays. At high titers (～7 log(10) PFU/ml), FCV-F9 was significantly reduced by 3.64, 4.10, and 4.61 log(10) PFU/ml; MNV-1 by 0.82, 1.35, and 1.73 log(10) PFU/ml; MS2 by 1.13, 1.43, and 1.60 log(10) PFU/ml; and HAV by 1.81, 2.66, and 3.20 log(10) PFU/ml after treatment at 37°C with 0.25, 0.50, and 1 mg/ml GSE, respectively (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. GSE treatment of low titers (～5 log(10) PFU/ml) at 37°C also showed viral reductions. Room-temperature treatments with GSE caused significant reduction of the four viruses, with higher reduction for low-titer FCV-F9, MNV-1, and HAV compared to high titers. Our results indicate that GSE shows promise for application in the food industry as an inexpensive novel natural alternative to reduce viral contamination and enhance food safety.     

Virulence of La Crosse virus is under polygenic control.

To identify which RNA segments of the California serogroup bunyaviruses determine virulence, we prepared reassortant viruses by coinfecting BHK-21 cells with two wild-type parents, La Crosse/original and Tahyna/181-57 viruses, which differed about 30,000-fold in virulence. The progeny clones were screened by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to ascertain the phenotype of the M and S RNA segments, and RNA-RNA hybridization was used to determine the genotype of selected clones. Two or three clones of each of the six possible reassortant genotypes were characterized quantitatively for neuroinvasiveness by determining the PFU/50% lethal dose (LD50) ratio after subcutaneous injection into suckling mice. The reassortants fell into two groups. (i) Six of seven reassortants with a La Crosse M RNA segment were as virulent as the parent La Crosse virus (about 1 PFU/LD50); the one exception was strikingly different (about 1,000 PFU/LD50) and probably represents a spontaneous mutant. (ii) The seven reassortants with a Tahyna M RNA segment were about 10-fold more virulent than the parent Tahyna virus (median 1,600 PFU/LD50 for reassortants and 16,000 PFU/LD50 for Tahyna virus). A comparative pathogenesis study in suckling mice of one reassortant virus and the parent Tahyna virus confirmed the greater neuroinvasiveness of the reassortant virus. From these data it was concluded that the M RNA segment was the major determinant of virulence, but that the other two gene segments could modulate the virulence of a nonneuroinvasive California serogroup virus.     

Biological heterogeneity, including systemic replication in mice, of H5N1 influenza A virus isolates from humans in Hong Kong

An H5N1 avian influenza A virus was transmitted to humans in Hong Kong in 1997. Although the virus causes systemic infection and is highly lethal in chickens because of the susceptibility of the hemagglutinin to furin and PC6 proteases, it is not known whether it also causes systemic infection in humans. The clinical outcomes of infection in Hong Kong residents ranged widely, from mild respiratory disease to multiple organ failure leading to death. Therefore, to understand the pathogenesis of influenza due to these H5N1 isolates, we investigated their virulence in mice. The results identified two distinct groups of viruses: group 1, for which the dose lethal for 50% of mice (MLD50) was between 0.3 and 11 PFU, and group 2, for which the MLD50 was more than 10(3) PFU. One day after intranasal inoculation of mice with 100 PFU of group 1 viruses, the virus titer in lungs was 10(7) PFU/g or 3 log units higher than that for group 2 viruses. Both types of viruses had replicated to high titers (>10(6) PFU/g) in the lungs by day 3 and maintained these titers through day 6. More importantly, only the group 1 viruses caused systemic infection, replicating in nonrespiratory organs, including the brain. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the replication of a group 1 virus in brain neurons and glial cells and in cardiac myofibers. Phylogenetic analysis of all viral genes showed that both groups of Hong Kong H5N1 viruses had formed a lineage distinct from those of other viruses and that genetic reassortment between H5N1 and H1 or H3 human viruses had not occurred. Since mice and humans harbor both the furin and the PC6 proteases, we suggest that the virulence mechanism responsible for the lethality of influenza viruses in birds also operates in mammalian hosts. The failure of some H5N1 viruses to produce systemic infection in our model indicates that multiple, still-to-be-identified, factors contribute to the severity of H5N1 infection in mammals. In addition, the ability of these viruses to produce systemic infection in mice and the clear differences in pathogenicity among the isolates studied here indicate that this system provides a useful model for studying the pathogenesis of avian influenza virus infection in mammals.