Analysis of synonymous codon usage bias in 09H1N1

A novel subtype of influenza A virus 09H1N1 has rapidly spread across the world. Evolutionary analyses of this virus have revealed that 09H1N1 is a triple reassortant of segments from swine, avian and human influenza viruses. In this study, we investigated factors shaping the codon usage bias of 09H1N1 and carried out cluster analysis of 60 strains of influenza A virus from different subtypes based on their codon usage bias. We discovered that more preferentially used codons of 09H1N1 are A-ended or U-ended, and the intra-genomic codon usage bias of 09H1N1 is quite low. Base composition constraint, dinucleotide biases and translational selection are the main factors influencing the codon usage bias of 09H1N1. At the genome level, we find that the codon usage bias of 09H1N1 is similar to H1N1 (A/swine/Kansas/77778/2007H1N1), H9N2 from Asia, H1N2 from Asia and North America and H3N2 from North America. Our results provide insight for understanding the processes governing evolution, regulation of gene expression, and revealing the evolution of 09H1N1.     

The M segment of the 2009 new pandemic H1N1 influenza virus is critical for its high transmission efficiency in the guinea pig model

A remarkable feature of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus is its efficient transmissibility in humans compared to that of precursor strains from the triple-reassortant swine influenza virus lineage, which cause only sporadic infections in humans. The viral components essential for this phenotype have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to determine the viral factors critical for aerosol transmission of the 2009 pandemic virus. Single or multiple segment reassortments were made between the pandemic A/California/04/09 (H1N1) (Cal/09) virus and another H1N1 strain, A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) (PR8). These viruses were then tested in the guinea pig model to understand which segment of Cal/09 virus conferred transmissibility to the poorly transmissible PR8 virus. We confirmed our findings by generating recombinant A/swine/Texas/1998 (H3N2) (sw/Tx/98) virus, a representative triple-reassortant swine virus, containing segments of the Cal/09 virus. The data showed that the M segment of the Cal/09 virus promoted aerosol transmissibility to recombinant viruses with PR8 and sw/Tx/98 virus backgrounds, suggesting that the M segment is a critical factor supporting the transmission of the 2009 pandemic virus.     

Analysis of Synonymous Codon Usage Bias in 09H1N1

A novel subtype of influenza A virus 09H1N1 has rapidly spread across the world. Evolutionary analyses of this virus have revealed that 09H1N1 is a triple reassortant of segments from swine, avian and human influenza viruses. In this study, we investigated factors shaping the codon usage bias of 09H1N1 and carried out cluster analysis of 60 strains of influenza A virus from different subtypes based on their codon usage bias. We discovered that more preferentially used codons of 09H1N1 are A-ended or U-ended...     

Analysis of cellular proteome alterations in porcine alveolar macrophage cells infected with 2009 (H1N1) and classical swine H1N1 influenza viruses

The H1N1/2009 influenza virus has the potential to cause a human pandemic, and sporadic cases of human-to-pig transmission have been reported. In this study, two influenza viruses were isolated from pigs. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the A/swine/NanChang/F9/2010(H1N1) (F9/10) strain shared a high degree of homology with the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus, and A/swine/GuangDong/34/2006 (H1N1) (34/06) strains was a classical swine influenza virus. A proteomic analysis was performed to investigate possible alterations of protein expression in porcine alveolar macrophage (PAM) cells infected by the F9/10 and 34/06 viruses over different time courses. Using 2-DE in association with MALDI-TOF MS/MS, we identified 13 up-regulated and 21 down-regulated protein spots, including cytoskeleton proteins, cellular signal transduction proteins, molecular biosynthesis proteins and heat shock proteins. The most significant changes in the infected cells were associated with molecular biosynthesis proteins and heat shock proteins. We analysed the biological characteristics of the F9/10 and 34/06 viruses in vivo and in vitro. The F9/10 virus showed greater pathogenicity than the 34/06 virus in PAM cells and mice. This study provides insights into the biologic characteristics, potential virulence alteration and cross-species transmission mechanisms of the pandemic H1N1/2009.     

A/H1N1流感—世界关注的焦点

2009年4月,A/H1N1流感在墨西哥和美国暴发。随后,疫情迅速蔓延到美洲、欧洲、亚洲多个国家。A/H1N1流感病毒是一种以前在人或动物身上从未观测到的新病毒。遗传进化和抗原特性分析表明该病毒和猪流感病毒密切相关,与人类的季节性流感病毒有明显区别。但是流行病学信息表明A/H1N1流感病毒只攻击人类,并在人与人之间传播,尚未发现动物向人类传播的情况。本文从A/H1N1流感病毒的生物学特性、临床特征、公共卫生意义等方面全面阐述了A/H1N1流感的最新研究进展,为正确认识和科学防控A/H1N1流感提供参考。     

Novel reassortment of Eurasian avian-like and pandemic/2009 influenza viruses in swine: infectious potential for humans

Pigs are considered to be intermediate hosts and "mixing vessels," facilitating the genesis of pandemic influenza viruses, as demonstrated by the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic (pdm/09) virus. The prevalence and repeated introduction of the pdm/09 virus into pigs raises the possibility of generating novel swine influenza viruses with the potential to infect humans. To address this, an active influenza surveillance program was conducted with slaughtered pigs in abattoirs in southern China. Over 50% of the pigs tested were found to be seropositive for one or more H1 influenza viruses, most commonly pdm/09-like viruses. Out of 36 virus isolates detected, one group of novel reassortants had Eurasian avian-like swine H1N1 surface genes and pdm/09 internal genes. Animal experiments showed that this virus transmitted effectively from pig to pig and from pig to ferret, and it could also replicate in ex vivo human lung tissue. Immunization against the 2009 pandemic virus gave only partial protection to ferrets. The continuing prevalence of the pdm/09 virus in pigs could lead to the genesis of novel swine reassortant viruses with the potential to infect humans.     

Epidemiology and Genotypic Diversity of Eurasian Avian-Like H1N1 Swine Influenza Viruses in China

Eurasian avian-like H1 N1(EA H1 N1) swine influenza virus(SIV) outside European countries was first detected in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(Hong Kong, SAR) of China in 2001. Afterwards, EA H1 N1 SIVs have become predominant in pig population in this country. However, the epidemiology and genotypic diversity of EA H1 N1 SIVs in China are still unknown. Here, we collected the EA H1 N1 SIVs sequences from China between 2001 and 2018 and analyzed the epidemic and phylogenic features, and key molecular markers of these EA H1 N1 SIVs. Our results showed that EA H1 N1 SIVs distributed in nineteen provinces/municipalities of China. After a long-time evolution and transmission, EA H1 N1 SIVs were continuously reassorted with other co-circulated influenza viruses, including 2009 pandemic H1 N1(A(H1 N1)pdm09), and triple reassortment H1 N2(TR H1 N2) influenza viruses, generated 11 genotypes. Genotype 3 and 5, both of which were the reassortments among EA H1 N1, A(H1 N1)pdm09 and TR H1 N2 viruses with different origins of M genes, have become predominant in pig population. Furthermore, key molecular signatures were identified in EA H1 N1 SIVs. Our study has drawn a genotypic diversity image of EA H1 N1 viruses, and could help to evaluate the potential risk of EA H1 N1 for pandemic preparedness and response.     

Evolution of the Hemagglutinin Gene of the Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Virus in Morocco During Two Influenza Seasons 2009–2011

To study genetic evolution of Moroccan influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains, we conducted a molecular characterization of the hemagglutinin gene subunit 1 (HA1) of 36 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains. The stains were collected from patients in Rabat and Casablanca during two influenza seasons 2009–2010 and 2010–2011. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of 14 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains from 2009 to 2010 were ~97 and 99 %, respectively, similar to the reference strain A/California/07/2009 (H1N1). Phylogenetic analysis of 22 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains from 2010 to 2011 revealed a co-circulation of three well-described different genetic groups. Most important, none of the identified groups showed significant changes at the antigenic site of the virus HA1 subunit which may alter the efficacy of California/07/2009 (H1N1) vaccine.     

江苏首例甲型H1N1(2009)流感病毒分离及其血凝素分子遗传特征分析

2009年6月12日,江苏确诊首例甲型H1N1(2009)病例。通过细胞和鸡胚分离系统,我们分离到一株具有较高血凝活性的病毒,命名为A/Jiangsu/1/2009。为了跟踪病毒的变异情况,我们开展了病毒的全基因组测序工作,在此基础上对其血凝素基因(Haemagglutinin,HA)的遗传特性进行了详细研究。分离株HA蛋白不具有多碱基HA裂解位点,具有低致病性流感病毒特点。与参考株A/California/04/2009相比,分离株A/Jiangsu/1/2009HA蛋白的有4个氨基酸发生了突变,但都不在已知的抗原位点上。分离株有5个潜在糖基化位点,这与近年来古典猪H1N1和北美三源重配猪H1病毒完全一致,保留了古典猪H1的特点。与禽流感H1病毒相比,分离株HA蛋白受体结合位点上的E190D和G225D发生突变,这可能成为新甲型H1N1(2009)在人际间传播的一个重要分子基础。此外,其它受体结合位点上相关氨基酸同时具有人和猪流感病毒的特点。本研究首次对早期流行的甲型H1N1(2009)流感病毒的HA蛋白的分子遗传特征进行了详细研究,对进一步监测病原变异具有重要指导意义。     

一株H3N2亚型猪流感病毒广东分离株的基因组序列分析

从广东省疑似流感发病猪分离到1株H3N2亚型猪流感病毒(A/Swine/Guangdong/01/2005(H3N2)),对其各个基因进行克隆与测序,并与GenBank中收录的其它猪流感、禽流感和人流感的相关基因进行比较,结果表明,HA全基因与广东2003~2004年分离的H3N2猪流感毒株的核苷酸序列同源性在99%以上,与纽约90年代末分离的H3N2人流感毒株同源性在98.5%以上;NA基因与纽约1998~2000年分离的H3N2人流感毒株的核苷酸序列同源性在99%以上;NS基因、M基因的核苷酸序列与H1N1亚型猪流感毒株A/swine/HongKong/273/1994(H1N1)的核苷酸序列同源性较高,分别为97.9%、98.4%,与美洲A/swine/Iowa/17672/1988(H1N1)的核苷酸序列同源性分别为96.7%、97.1%;其他基因的核苷酸序列与H3N2人流感毒株具有很高的同源性。因此,推测其M和NS基因来源于H1N1亚型猪流感病毒,HA、NA及其他基因均来源于H3N2亚型人流感病毒。表明此H3N2亚型猪流感病毒为H3N2亚型人流感病毒和H1N1亚型猪流感病毒经基因重排而得到的重组病毒。     

Isolation and genetic characterization of avian-like H1N1 and novel ressortant H1N2 influenza viruses from pigs in China

As pigs are susceptible to both human and avian influenza viruses, they have been proposed to be intermediate hosts or mixing vessels for the generation of pandemic influenza viruses through reassortment or adaptation to the mammalian host. In this study, we reported avian-like H1N1 and novel ressortant H1N2 influenza viruses from pigs in China. Homology and phylogenetic analyses showed that the H1N1 virus (A/swine/Zhejiang/1/07) was closely to avian-like H1N1 viruses and seemed to be derived from the European swine H1N1 viruses, which was for the first time reported in China; and the two H1N2 viruses (A/swine/Shanghai/1/07 and A/swine/Guangxi/13/06) were novel ressortant H1N2 influenza viruses containing genes from the classical swine (HA, NP, M and NS), human (NA and PB1) and avian (PB2 and PA) lineages, which indicted that the reassortment among human, avian, and swine influenza viruses had taken place in pigs in China and resulted in the generation of new viruses. The isolation of avian-like H1N1 influenza virus originated from the European swine H1N1 viruses, especially the emergence of two novel ressortant H1N2 influenza viruses provides further evidence that pigs serve as intermediate hosts or “mixing vessels”, and swine influenza virus surveillance in China should be given a high priority.     

Increased pathogenicity of a reassortant 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus containing an H5N1 hemagglutinin

A novel H1N1 influenza virus emerged in 2009 (pH1N1) to become the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century. This virus is now cocirculating with highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses in many parts of the world, raising concerns that a reassortment event may lead to highly pathogenic influenza strains with the capacity to infect humans more readily and cause severe disease. To investigate the virulence of pH1N1-H5N1 reassortant viruses, we created pH1N1 (A/California/04/2009) viruses expressing individual genes from an avian H5N1 influenza strain (A/Hong Kong/483/1997). Using several in vitro models of virus replication, we observed increased replication for a reassortant CA/09 virus expressing the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of HK/483 (CA/09-483HA) relative to that of either parental CA/09 virus or reassortant CA/09 expressing other HK/483 genes. This increased replication correlated with enhanced pathogenicity in infected mice similar to that of the parental HK/483 strain. The serial passage of the CA/09 parental virus and the CA/09-483HA virus through primary human lung epithelial cells resulted in increased pathogenicity, suggesting that these viruses easily adapt to humans and become more virulent. In contrast, serial passage attenuated the parental HK/483 virus in vitro and resulted in slightly reduced morbidity in vivo, suggesting that sustained replication in humans attenuates H5N1 avian influenza viruses. Taken together, these data suggest that reassortment between cocirculating human pH1N1 and avian H5N1 influenza strains will result in a virus with the potential for increased pathogenicity in mammals.     

Polymerase Discordance in Novel Swine Influenza H3N2v Constellations Is Tolerated in Swine but Not Human Respiratory Epithelial Cells

Swine-origin H3N2v, a variant of H3N2 influenza virus, is a concern for novel reassortment with circulating pandemic H1N1 influenza virus (H1N1pdm09) in swine because this can lead to the emergence of a novel pandemic virus. In this study, the reassortment prevalence of H3N2v with H1N1pdm09 was determined in swine cells. Reassortants evaluated showed that the H1N1pdm09 polymerase (PA) segment occurred within swine H3N2 with ∼80% frequency. The swine H3N2-human H1N1pdm09 PA reassortant (swH3N2-huPA) showed enhanced replication in swine cells, and was the dominant gene constellation. Ferrets infected with swH3N2-huPA had increased lung pathogenicity compared to parent viruses; however, swH3N2-huPA replication in normal human bronchoepithelial cells was attenuated - a feature linked to expression of IFN-β and IFN-λ genes in human but not swine cells. These findings indicate that emergence of novel H3N2v influenza constellations require more than changes in the viral polymerase complex to overcome barriers to cross-species transmission. Additionally, these findings reveal that while the ferret model is highly informative for influenza studies, slight differences in pathogenicity may not necessarily be indicative of human outcomes after infection.     

Cross-neutralizing antibodies to pandemic 2009 H1N1 and recent seasonal H1N1 influenza A strains influenced by a mutation in hemagglutinin subunit 2

Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus (2009 H1N1) differs from H1N1 strains that circulated in the past 50 years, but resembles the A/New Jersey/1976 H1N1 strain used in the 1976 swine influenza vaccine. We investigated whether sera from persons immunized with the 1976 swine influenza or recent seasonal influenza vaccines, or both, neutralize 2009 H1N1. Using retroviral pseudovirions bearing hemagglutinins on their surface (HA-pseudotypes), we found that 77% of the sera collected in 1976 after immunization with the A/New Jersey/1976 H1N1 swine influenza vaccine neutralized 2009 H1N1. Forty five percent also neutralized A/New Caledonia/20/1999 H1N1, a strain used in seasonal influenza vaccines during the 2000/01-2006/07 seasons. Among adults aged 48-64 who received the swine influenza vaccine in 1976 and recent seasonal influenza vaccines during the 2004/05-2008/09 seasons, 83% had sera that neutralized 2009 H1N1. However, 68% of age-matched subjects who received the same seasonal influenza vaccines, but did not receive the 1976 swine influenza vaccine, also had sera that neutralized 2009 H1N1. Sera from both 1976 and contemporary cohorts frequently had cross-neutralizing antibodies to 2009 H1N1 and A/New Caledonia/20/1999 that mapped to hemagglutinin subunit 2 (HA2). A conservative mutation in HA2 corresponding to a residue in the A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 and A/Brisbane/59/2007 H1N1 strains that circulated in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 influenza seasons, respectively, abrogated this neutralization. These findings highlight a cross-neutralization determinant influenced by a point mutation in HA2 and suggest that HA2 may be evolving under direct or indirect immune pressure.     

PB2-588I Enhances 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Influenza Virus Virulence by Increasing Viral Replication and Exacerbating PB2 Inhibition of Beta Interferon Expression

The 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus (pdm/09) is typically mildly virulent in mice. In a previous study, we identified four novel swine isolates of pdm/09 viruses that exhibited high lethality in mice. Comparing the consensus sequences of the PB2 subunit of human isolates of pdm/09 viruses with those of the four swine isolate viruses revealed one consensus mutation: T588I. In this study, we determined that 588T is an amino acid mutation conserved in pdm/09 viruses that was exceedingly rare in previous human influenza isolates. To investigate whether the PB2 with the T5581 mutation (PB2-T558I) has an effect on the increased pathogenicity, we rescued a variant containing PB2-588I (Mex_PB2-588I) in the pdm/09 virus, A/Mexico/4486/2009(H1N1), referred to as Mex_WT (where WT is wild type), and characterized the variant in vitro and in vivo. The results indicated that the mutation significantly enhanced polymerase activity in mammalian cells, and the variant exhibited increased growth properties and induced significant weight loss in a mouse model compared to the wild type. We determined that the mutation exacerbated PB2 inhibition of mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS)-mediated beta interferon (IFN-β) expression, and PB2-588I was observed to bind to MAVS more efficiently than PB2-588T. The variant induced lower levels of host IFN-β expression than the WT strain during infection. These findings indicate that the pdm/09 influenza virus has increased pathogenicity upon the acquisition of the PB2-T588I mutation and highlight the need for the continued surveillance of the genetic variation of molecular markers in influenza viruses because of their potential effects on pathogenicity and threats to human health.     

The PDZ-binding motif of the avian NS1 protein affects transmission of the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) virus

By nature of their segmented RNA genome, influenza A viruses (IAVs) have the potential to generate variants through a reassortment process. The influenza nonstructural (NS) gene is critical for a virus to counteract the antiviral responses of the host. Therefore, a newly acquired NS segment potentially determines the replication efficiency of the reassortant virus in a range of different hosts. In addition, the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif (PBM) has been suggested as a pathogenic determinant of IAVs. To gauge the pandemic potential from human and avian IAV reassortment, we assessed the replication properties of NS-reassorted viruses in cultured cells and in the lungs of mice and determined their transmissibility in guinea pigs. Compared with the recombinant A/Korea/01/2009 virus (rK09; 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain), the rK09/VN:NS virus, in which the NS gene was adopted from the A/Vietnam/1203/2004 virus (a human isolate of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus strains), exhibited attenuated virulence and reduced transmissibility. However, the rK09/VN:NS-PBM virus, harboring the PBM in the C-terminus of the NS1 protein, recovered the attenuated virulence of the rK09/VN:NS virus. In a guinea pig model, the rK09/VN:NS-PBM virus showed even greater transmission efficiency than the rK/09 virus. These results suggest that the PBM in the NS1 protein may determine viral persistence in the human and avian IAV interface.     

High genetic and antigenic similarity between a swine H3N2 influenza A virus and a prior human influenza vaccine virus: A possible immune pressure-driven cross-species transmission

In late April of 2009, a global outbreak of human influenza was reported. The causative agent is a highly unusual reassortant H1N1 influenza virus carrying genetic segments derived from swine, human and avian influenza viruses. In this study, we compared the HA, NA and other gene segments of a swine H3N2 influenza A virus, A/Swine/Guangdong/z5/2003, which was isolated from pigs in 2003 in Guangdong Province, China, to the predominant human and swine H3N2 viruses. We found that the similarity of gene segments of A/Swine/Guangdong/z5/2003 was closer to Moscow/99-like human H3N2 virus than Europe swine H3N2 viruses during 1999-2002. These results suggest that A/Swine/Guangdong/z5/2003 may be porcine in origin, possibly being driven by human immune pressure induced by either natural H3N2 virus infection or use of A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2)-based human influenza vaccine. The results further confirm that swine may play a dual role as a “shelter” for hosting influenza virus from humans or birds and as a “mixing vessel” for generating reassortant influenza viruses, such as the one causing current influenza pandemic.     

Molecular character of influenza A/H1N1 2009: Implications for spread and control

The world is experiencing a pandemic of influenza that emerged in March 2009, due to a novel strain designated influenza A/H1N1 2009. This strain is closest in molecular sequence to swine influenza viruses, but differs from all previously known influenza by a minimum of 6.1%, and from prior “seasonal” H1N1 by 27.2%, giving it great potential for widespread human infection. While spread into India was delayed for two months by an aggressive interdiction program, since 1 August 2009 most cases in India have been indigenous. H1N1 2009 has differentially struck younger patients who are naïve susceptibles to its antigenic subtype, while sparing those >60 who have crossreactive antibody from prior experience with influenza decades ago and the 1977 “swine flu” vaccine distributed in the United States. It also appears to more severely affect pregnant women. It emanated from a single source in central Mexico, but its precise geographical and circumstantial origins, from either Eurasia or the Americas, remain uncertain. While currently a mild pandemic by the standard of past pandemics, the seriousness of H1N1 2009 especially among children should not be underestimated. There is potential for the virus, which continues to adapt to humans, to change over time into a more severe etiologic agent by any of several foreseeable mutations. Mass acceptance of the novel H1N1 2009 vaccine worldwide will be essential to its control. Having spread globally in a few months, affecting millions of people, it is likely to remain circulating in the human population for a decade or more.     

Comparative pathology in ferrets infected with H1N1 influenza A viruses isolated from different hosts

Virus replication and pulmonary disease pathogenesis in ferrets following intranasal infection with a pandemic influenza virus strain (A/California/4/09 [CA09]), a human seasonal influenza H1N1 virus isolate (A/New Caledonia/20/99 [Ncal99]), a classical swine influenza H1N1 virus isolate (A/Swine/Iowa/15/30 [Sw30]), or an avian H1N1 virus isolate (A/Mallard/MN/A108-2355/08 [Mal08]) were compared. Nasal wash virus titers were similar for Ncal99 and Sw30, with peak virus titers of 10(5.1) 50% tissue culture infectious doses (TCID(50))/ml and 10(5.5) TCID(50)/ml occurring at day 3 postinfection (p.i.), respectively. The mean peak titer for CA09 also occurred at day 3 p.i. but was higher (10(7) TCID(50)/ml). In contrast, the peak virus titers (10(3.6) to 10(4.3) TCID(50)/ml) for Mal08 were delayed, occurring between days 5 and 7 p.i. Disease pathogenesis was characterized by microscopic lesions in the nasal turbinates and lungs of all ferrets; however, Sw30 infection was associated with severe bronchointerstitial pneumonia. The results demonstrate that although CA09 is highly transmissible in the human population and replicates well in the ferret model, it causes modest disease compared to other H1N1 viruses, particularly Sw30 infection.     

Influenza A Virus PB1-F2 Protein Expression Is Regulated in a Strain-Specific Manner by Sequences Located Downstream of the PB1-F2 Initiation Codon

Translation of influenza A virus PB1-F2 occurs in a second open reading frame (ORF) of the PB1 gene segment. PB1-F2 has been implicated in regulation of polymerase activity, immunopathology, susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection, and induction of apoptosis. Experimental evidence of PB1-F2 molecular function during infection has been collected primarily from human and avian viral isolates. As the 2009 H1N1 (H1N1pdm09) strain highlighted, some swine-derived influenza viruses have the capacity to infect human hosts and emerge as a pandemic. Understanding the impact that virulence factors from swine isolates have on both human and swine health could aid in early identification of viruses with pandemic potential. Studies examining PB1-F2 from swine isolates have focused primarily on H1N1pdm09, which does not encode PB1-F2 but was engineered to carry a full-length PB1-F2 ORF to assess the impact on viral replication and pathogenicity. However, experimental evidence of PB1-F2 protein expression from swine lineage viruses has not been demonstrated. Here, we reveal that during infection, PB1-F2 expression levels are substantially different in swine and human influenza viruses. We provide evidence that PB1-F2 expression is regulated at the translational level, with very low levels of PB1-F2 expression from swine lineage viruses relative to a human isolate PB1-F2. Translational regulation of PB1-F2 expression was partially mapped to two independent regions within the PB1 mRNA, located downstream of the PB1-F2 start site. Our data suggest that carrying a full-length PB1-F2 ORF may not be predictive of PB1-F2 expression in infected cells for all influenza A viruses.