Adaption of seasonal H1N1 influenza virus in mice

The experimental infection of a mouse lung with influenza A virus has proven to be an invaluable model for studying the mechanisms of viral adaptation and virulence. The mouse adaption of human influenza A virus can result in mutations in the HA and other proteins, which is associated with increased virulence in mouse lungs. In this study, a mouse-adapted seasonal H1N1 virus was obtained through serial lung-to-lung passages and had significantly increased virulence and pathogenicity in mice. Genetic analysis indicated that the increased virulence of the mouse-adapted virus was attributed to incremental acquisition of three mutations in the HA protein (T89I, N125T, and D221G). However, the mouse adaption of influenza A virus did not change the specificity and affinity of receptor binding and the pH-dependent membrane fusion of HA, as well as the in vitro replication in MDCK cells. Notably, infection with the mouse adapted virus induced severe lymphopenia and modulated cytokine and chemokine responses in mice. Apparently, mouse adaption of human influenza A virus may change the ability to replicate in mouse lungs, which induces strong immune responses and inflammation in mice. Therefore, our findings may provide new insights into understanding the mechanisms underlying the mouse adaption and pathogenicity of highly virulent influenza viruses.     

Mast cell-induced lung injury in mice infected with H5N1 influenza virus

Although an important role for mast cells in several viral infections has been demonstrated, its role in the invasion of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus is unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that mast cells were activated significantly by H5N1 virus (A/chicken/Henan/1/2004) infection both in vivo and in vitro. Mast cells could possibly intensify the lung injury that results from H5N1 infection by releasing proinflammatory mediators, including histamine, tryptase, and gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Lung lesions and apoptosis induced by H5N1 infection were reduced dramatically by treatment with ketotifen, which is a mast cell degranulation inhibitor. A combination of ketotifen and the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir protected 100% of the mice from death postinfection. In conclusion, our data suggest that mast cells play a crucial role in the early stages of H5N1 influenza virus infection and provide a new approach to combat highly pathogenic influenza virus infection.     

Reverse genetics approach towards understanding pathogenesis of H5N1 Hong Kong influenza A virus infection.

In 1990, Palese and colleagues established a method (reverse genetics) that allowed one to generate influenza virus containing a gene segment derived from cloned cDNA. Although this method contributed tremendously to our understanding of influenza pathogenesis, the requirement of helper viruses limited its use in many experimental settings. Recently, we and others established systems for the generation of influenza viruses entirely from cloned cDNAs. These systems require only DNA cloning and transfection techniques, and can therefore be easily implemented by laboratories working in the fields of molecular biology and virology. Thus, for the first time, a system is now available that allows highly efficient generation of influenza virus without technical limitations. Using this technology, we generated the same strain of H5N1 influenza viruses that caused an outbreak in Hong Kong in 1997, killing six people.     

Human H5N1 influenza: current insight into pathogenesis

Since their emergence as avian (1996) and zoonotic human pathogens (1997), H5N1 influenza viruses have become endemic among poultry in large parts of Asia, but outbreaks have also been seen in Africa and Europe. Transmission from animals to humans remains sporadic, but mortality of human infection is high (63%). To date, reported cases of human to human transmission have been rare. Patient and laboratory data suggest that highly efficient viral replication and the resulting intensified immune response of the human host are the determining factors in H5N1 pathogenesis and case fatality rate. Therefore, in the management of H5N1 disease (early) suppression of viral replication is key. The underlying biochemistry and cell biology of H5N1 pathogenesis and treatment are briefly discussed in this review.     

Prediction of mutations in H5N1 hemagglutinins from influenza A virus

In this study, we determine the mutation relation among 333 H5N1 hemagglutinins of influenza A viruses according to their amino acid and RNA codon sequences. Then, we calculate seven probabilistic numbers, which have been developed by us since 1999, for each amino acid in these hemagglutinins. With the seven numeric numbers as independents and the probability of occurrence of mutation at each hemagglutinin position as dependent, we use the logistic regression to model 967 missense point mutations from 333 hemagglutinins to get the population estimates. Thereafter, we predict the future mutation positions in H5N1 hemagglutinin. Finally, we use the translation probabilities between RNA codons and mutated amino acids to predict the would-be-mutated amino acids in H5N1 hemagglutinin.     

Susceptibility of pandemic influenza virus A 2009 H1N1 and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A H5N1 to antiinfluenza agents in cell culture

The data on cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of commercial antivirals, such as Remantadine, Oseltamivir, Arbidol and Ribavirin in the MDCK cell culture infected with highly pathogenic (H5N1) and pandemic 2009 (H1N1) influenza A viruses are presented. The study of the antiviral activity of antivirals in the MDCK cells culture demonstrated that Arbidol, Rimantadine and Ribavirin efficiently inhibited reproduction of the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses isolated from sick birds. Arbidol and Oseltamivir carboxylate selectively inhibited reproduction of the pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses with changed specificity to the cell receptors, causing severe influenza in men, while remantadine had no effect on their reproduction.     

人H7N9禽流感病毒与H1N1流感病毒感染小鼠病理学损伤的比较

目的比较分析H7N9病毒与H1N1病毒感染小鼠病理学损伤特点,初步探讨两种病毒感染致小鼠急性肺损伤的致病机制。方法 H7N9病毒与H1N1病毒分别感染小鼠,观察不同病毒感染后小鼠生存率,并于不同时间点取心、肝、脾、肺、肾、脑、肠等组织,伊红-苏木素染色并进行组织病理学分析,免疫组化检测病毒抗原分布及中性粒细胞浸润。综合分析肺组织病理损伤与病毒复制、宿主免疫反应之间的关系。结果 H7N9病毒感染小鼠肺及脾脏损伤较轻,存活率较高。H1N1病毒感染的小鼠肺及脾脏损伤较重,感染后9 d全部死亡;两种病毒抗原主要分布于支气管上皮细胞、少量间质细胞和肺泡上皮细胞,病毒复制水平无明显差异。但H1N1病毒感染后肺及脾脏中均有大量中性粒细胞浸润,小鼠机体炎症反应明显强于H7N9病毒感染后小鼠炎症反应。结论 H7N9病毒与H1N1病毒感染后小鼠病理学损伤特点及程度均不同,病毒复制是小鼠肺损伤的诱发因素但并非决定因素,宿主针对病毒感染产生的免疫反应程度与急性肺损伤密切相关。     

Molecular dynamics simulation of oseltamivir resistance in neuraminidase of avian influenza H5N1 virus

The outbreak of avian influenza virus H5N1 has raised a global concern because of its high virulence and mutation rate. Although two classes of antiviral drugs, M2 ion channel protein inhibitors and neuraminidase inhibitors, are expected to be important in controlling the early stages of a potential pandemic. Different strains of influenza viruses have differing degrees of resistance against the antivirals. In order to analyze the detailed information on the viral resistance, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out for the neuraminidase (NA) complex with oseltamivir. The carboxylate of Glu276 of H252Y NA faces toward the O-ethyl-propyl group of oesltamivir, Glu276 of wild-type NA adopts a conformation pointing away from the oesltamivir. τ2 and τ3 torsional angles fluctuation of the oesltamivir are relatively high for the H252Y mutant NA complex. In addition, there are fewer hydrogen bonds between the oesltamivir and H252Y mutation NA. The results show that H252Y mutation NA has high resistance against the drug.     

Phylodynamics of H5N1 avian influenza virus in Indonesia

Understanding how pathogens invade and become established in novel host populations is central to the ecology and evolution of infectious disease. Influenza viruses provide unique opportunities to study these processes in nature because of their rapid evolution, extensive surveillance, large data sets and propensity to jump species boundaries. H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is a major animal pathogen and public health threat. The virus is of particular importance in Indonesia, causing severe outbreaks among poultry and sporadic human infections since 2003. However, little is known about how H5N1 HPAIV emerged and established in Indonesia. To address these questions, we analysed Indonesian H5N1 HPAIV gene sequences isolated during 2003-2007. We find that the virus originated from a single introduction into East Java between November 2002 and October 2003. This invasion was characterized by an initially rapid burst of viral genetic diversity followed by a steady rate of lineage replacement and the maintenance of genetic diversity. Several antigenic sites in the haemagglutinin gene were subject to positive selection during the early phase, suggesting that host-immune-driven selection played a role in host adaptation and expansion. Phylogeographic analyses show that after the initial invasion of H5N1, genetic variants moved both eastwards and westwards across Java, possibly involving long-distance transportation by humans. The phylodynamics we uncover share similarities with other recently studied viral invasions, thereby shedding light on the ecological and evolutionary processes that determine disease emergence in a new geographical region.     

Role of hypercytokinemia in NF-kappaB p50-deficient mice after H5N1 influenza A virus infection

During H5N1 influenza virus infection, proinflammatory cytokines are markedly elevated in the lungs of infected hosts. The significance of this dysregulated cytokine response in H5N1-mediated pathogenesis remains to be determined. To investigate the influence of hypercytokinemia, or "cytokine storm," a transgenic mouse technology was used. The classical NF-kappaB pathway regulates the induction of most proinflammatory cytokines. Deletion of the p50 subunit leads to a markedly reduced expression of the NF-kappaB-regulated cytokines and chemokines. Here we show that H5N1 influenza virus infection of this transgenic mouse model resulted in a lack of hypercytokinemia but not in altered pathogenesis.     

Role of host cytokine responses in the pathogenesis of avian H5N1 influenza viruses in mice

Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses are now widespread in poultry in Asia and have recently spread to some African and European countries. Interspecies transmission of these viruses to humans poses a major threat to public health. To better understand the basis of pathogenesis of H5N1 viruses, we have investigated the role of proinflammatory cytokines in transgenic mice deficient in interleukin-6 (IL-6), macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1alpha), IL-1 receptor (IL-1R), or tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) by the use of two avian influenza A viruses isolated from humans, A/Hong Kong/483/97 (HK/483) and A/Hong Kong/486/97 (HK/486), which exhibit high and low lethality in mice, respectively. The course of disease and the extent of virus replication and spread in IL-6- and MIP-1alpha-deficient mice were not different from those observed in wild-type mice during acute infection with 1,000 50% mouse infective doses of either H5N1 virus. However, with HK/486 virus, IL-1R-deficient mice exhibited heightened morbidity and mortality due to infection, whereas no such differences were observed with the more virulent HK/483 virus. Furthermore, TNFR1-deficient mice exhibited significantly reduced morbidity following challenge with either H5N1 virus but no difference in viral replication and spread or ultimate disease outcome compared with wild-type mice. These results suggest that TNF-alpha may contribute to morbidity during H5N1 influenza virus infection, while IL-1 may be important for effective virus clearance in nonlethal H5N1 disease.     

H5N1亚型禽流感病毒进化的研究进展

由H5N1流感病毒引起的高致病性禽流感,在禽类之间广泛传播。当人类接触这些禽类时,可能会被感染并产生严重的呼吸道症状,且死亡率高达60%。血凝素(hemagglutinin,HA)是H5N1病毒中和抗体的主要抗原,为了便于对病毒的HA突变进行研究,根据HA遗传基因的差异远近,所有的H5病毒株都被划分在20个分支内。对于H5N1病毒进化的研究在禽流感疫苗的研制、禽流感大流行的预防等方面均具有重要意义。现对禽流感、H5N1病毒特征、血凝素的结构功能、H5N1病毒的分支以及病毒进化的研究进行概述。     

Molecular characteristic of influenza virus A H5N1 Strains isolated from poultry in Kurgan Region in 2005

During the latter half of 2005 a widespread outbreak caused by influenza highly pathogenic H5N1 virus among wild and domestic birds occurred in Russia. As pathogenicity level is a polygenic feature and majority of individual genes of influenza A viruses contribute to pathogenicity of influenza viruses to birds, animals and humans. Nucleotide sequencing of the entire genome of influenza H5N1 virus isolates obtained in Kurgan region (Western Siberia) was performed. Structure of viral proteins was analyzed according to the predicted amino acid sequences. HA receptor-binding site of A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 and A/duck/Kurgan/08/2005 strains was typical for avian influenza viruses and contained Glu and Gly at positions 226 and 228, respectively. Structure of the cluster of positively charged amino acid residues at the cleavage site was identical for all isolates: QGERRRKKR. According to the data of neuraminidase structure analysis NA of the H5N1 isolates tested was suggested to belong to Z genotype. Amino acid residues typical for birds were revealed in 30 out of 32 positions of M1, M2, NP, PA and PB2 proteins determining host range specificity. One strain isolated in Kurgan contained lysine in position 627 of PB2 protein. Kurgan isolates was shown to have remantadine-sensitive genotype. Glutamic acid was found at position 92 of NS1 protein in both strains indicating virus resistance to interferon. Phylogenetic analyses allowed relating Kurgan isolates to subclade II of clade II of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses.     

Avian influenza H5N1: an update on molecular pathogenesis

Avian influenza A virus constitutes a large threat to human health. Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus in poultry and in humans have raised concerns that an influenza pandemic will occur in the near future. Transmission from avian species to humans remains sporadic, but the mortality associated with human infection is very high (about 62%). To date, there are no effective therapeutic drugs or a prophylactic vaccines available, which means that there is still a long way to go before we can eradicate or cure avian influenza. This review focuses on the molecular pathogenesis of avian influenza H5N1 virus infection. An understanding of the viral pathogenesis may facilitate the development of novel treatments or effective eradication of this fatal disease.     

Characterization of a human H5N1 influenza A virus isolated in 2003

In 2003, H5N1 avian influenza virus infections were diagnosed in two Hong Kong residents who had visited the Fujian province in mainland China, affording us the opportunity to characterize one of the viral isolates, A/Hong Kong/213/03 (HK213; H5N1). In contrast to H5N1 viruses isolated from humans during the 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong, HK213 retained several features of aquatic bird viruses, including the lack of a deletion in the neuraminidase stalk and the absence of additional oligosaccharide chains at the globular head of the hemagglutinin molecule. It demonstrated weak pathogenicity in mice and ferrets but caused lethal infection in chickens. The original isolate failed to produce disease in ducks but became more pathogenic after five passages. Taken together, these findings portray the HK213 isolate as an aquatic avian influenza A virus without the molecular changes associated with the replication of H5N1 avian viruses in land-based poultry such as chickens. This case challenges the view that adaptation to land-based poultry is a prerequisite for the replication of aquatic avian influenza A viruses in humans.     

Triazavirin prophylactic efficacy against influenza virus A (H5N1)

The experimental study of the prophylactic efficacy of Triazaverin against the experimental form of the influenza virus A (H5N1) on albino mice intranasally infected with the influenza virus A/Chicken/Kurgan/Russia/02/05 vs. the reference drugs Tamiflu, Remantadin and Arbidol showed that in doses of 1 to 100 mg/kg it was efficient in the animal protection from death. The drug was also efficient in the urgent prophylaxis. Triazaverin effectively inhibited the influenza A virus multiplication in the lungs of the albino mice.     

Human avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection in China

Highly pathogenic influenza A (H5N1) virus causes a widespread poultry deaths worldwide. The first human H5N1 infected case was reported in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China in 1997. Since then, the virus re-emerged in 2003 and continues to infect people worldwide. Currently, over 400 human infections have been reported in more than 15 countries and mortality rate is greater than 60%. H5N1 viruses still pose a potential pandemic threat in the future because of the continuing global spread and evolution. Here, we summarize the epidemiological, clinical and virological characteristics of human H5N1 infection in China monitored and identified by our national surveillance systems. Chinese Nature Science Foundation Key Project (Grant No. 30599433), Chinese Basic Science Research Program (973)Key Project (Grant No. 2005CB523006)     

Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus causes coagulopathy in chickens

Severe hemorrhage at multiple organs is frequently observed in chickens infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A viruses. In this study we examined whether HPAI virus infection leads to coagulation disorder in chickens. Pathological examinations showed that the fibrin thrombi were formed in arterioles at the lung, associated with the viral antigens in endothelial cells of chickens infected intravenously with HPAI virus. Hematological analyses of peripheral blood collected from the chickens revealed that coagulopathy was initiated at early stage of infection when viral antigens were detected only in the endothelial cells and monocytes/macrophages. Furthermore, gene expression of the tissue factor, the main initiator of blood coagulation, was upregulated in the spleen, lung, and brain of HPAI virus-infected chickens. These results suggest that dysfunction of endothelial cells and monocytes/macrophages upon HPAI virus infection may induce hemostasis abnormalities represented by the excessive blood coagulation and consumptive coagulopathy in chickens.     

Distinct pathogenesis of hong kong-origin H5N1 viruses in mice compared to that of other highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza viruses

In 1997, an outbreak of virulent H5N1 avian influenza virus occurred in poultry in Hong Kong (HK) and was linked to a direct transmission to humans. The factors associated with transmission of avian influenza virus to mammals are not fully understood, and the potential risk of other highly virulent avian influenza A viruses infecting and causing disease in mammals is not known. In this study, two avian and one human HK-origin H5N1 virus along with four additional highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza viruses were analyzed for their pathogenicity in 6- to 8-week-old BALB/c mice. Both the avian and human HK H5 influenza virus isolates caused severe disease in mice, characterized by induced hypothermia, clinical signs, rapid weight loss, and 75 to 100% mortality by 6 to 8 days postinfection. Three of the non-HK-origin isolates caused no detectable clinical signs. One isolate, A/tk/England/91 (H5N1), induced measurable disease, and all but one of the animals recovered. Infections resulted in mild to severe lesions in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Most consistently, the viruses caused necrosis in respiratory epithelium of the nasal cavity, trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles with accompanying inflammation. The most severe and widespread lesions were observed in the lungs of HK avian influenza virus-infected mice, while no lesions or only mild lesions were evident with A/ck/Scotland/59 (H5N1) and A/ck/Queretaro/95 (H5N2). The A/ck/Italy/97 (H5N2) and the A/tk/England/91 (H5N1) viruses exhibited intermediate pathogenicity, producing mild to moderate respiratory tract lesions. In addition, infection by the different isolates could be further distinguished by the mouse immune response. The non-HK-origin isolates all induced production of increased levels of active transforming growth factor beta following infection, while the HK-origin isolates did not.