Enhanced pathogenicity and transmissibility of H9N2 avian influenza virus in mammals by hemagglutinin mutations combined with PB2-627K

H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) circulate globally in poultry and have become the dominant AIV subtype in China in recent years. Previously, we demonstrated that the H9N2 virus (A/chicken/Eastern China/SDKD1/2015) naturally harbors a mammalian-adaptive molecular factor (627K) in the PB2 protein and is weakly pathogenic in mice. Here, we focused on new markers for virulence in mammals. A mouse-adapted H9N2 virus was serially passaged in mice by infecting their lungs. As expected, infected mice showed clinical symptoms and died at passage six. A comparison between the wild-type and mouse-adapted virus sequences identified amino acid substitutions in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein. H9N2 viruses with the T187P ?+ ?M227L double mutation exhibited an increased affinity to human-type (SAα2,6Gal) receptors and significantly enhanced viral attachment to mouse lung tissues, which contributed to enhancing viral replication and virulence in mice. Additionally, HA with the T187P ?+ ?M227L mutation enabled H9N2 viral transmission in guinea pigs via direct contact. AIV pathogenicity in mice is a polygenic trait. Our results demonstrated that these HA mutations might be combined with PB2-627K to significantly increase H9N2 virulence in mice, and this enhanced virulence was achieved in other H9N2 AIVs by generating the same combination of mutations. In summary, our study identified novel key elements in the HA protein that are required for H9N2 pathogenicity in mice and provided valuable insights into pandemic preparedness against emerging H9N2 strains.     

The Genetic Diversity of Influenza A Viruses in Wild Birds in Peru

Our understanding of the global ecology of avian influenza A viruses (AIVs) is impeded by historically low levels of viral surveillance in Latin America. Through sampling and whole-genome sequencing of 31 AIVs from wild birds in Peru, we identified 10 HA subtypes (H1-H4, H6-H7, H10-H13) and 8 NA subtypes (N1-N3, N5-N9). The majority of Peruvian AIVs were closely related to AIVs found in North America. However, unusual reassortants, including a H13 virus containing a PA segment related to extremely divergent Argentinian viruses, suggest that substantial AIV diversity circulates undetected throughout South America.     

Epidemiology,Evolution, and Recent Outbreaks of Avian Influenza Virus in China

Novel reassortants of H7N9, H10N8, and H5N6 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are currently circulating in China''s poultry flocks, occasionally infecting humans and other mammals. Combined with the sometimes enzootic H5N1 and H9N2 strains, this cauldron of genetically diverse AIVs pose significant risks to public health. Here, we review the epidemiology, evolution, and recent outbreaks of AIVs in China, discuss reasons behind the recent increase in the emergence of novel AIVs, and identify warning signs which may point to the emergence of a potentially virulent and highly transmissible AIV to humans. This review will be useful to authorities who consider options for the detection and control of AIV transmission in animals and humans, with the goal of preventing future epidemics and pandemics.     

H9N2亚型禽流感病毒基因组的遗传进化分析

2009～2011年从江苏省、湖北省和安徽省等地来源于鸡、鸭、鹌鹑和鸽子的样品中分离鉴定出16株H9N2亚型禽流感病毒。通过反转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)扩增出分离株的全基因片段,并对其进行测序及遗传进化分析。序列分析显示,16株病毒HA基因裂解位点氨基酸序列为P-S-R/K-S-S-R,符合低致病性禽流感的分子特征;226位均为L,具有与哺乳动物唾液酸α,2-6受体结合的特性。M2基因均出现了对金刚烷胺产生耐药性的N31S突变。不同宿主来源的H9亚型AIV的主要分子特征一致。全基因遗传进化分析表明16株H9N2亚型禽流感病毒全基因发生了3配体重组,即以F98亚系AIV为骨架,HA来源于Y280亚系,PB2和M基因来源于G1亚系,形成了2种新的基因型。因此,要加强对H9N2亚型禽流感病毒的监测,密切关注它的重组趋势。     

Genetic and Molecular Characterization of H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from Live Poultry Markets in Hubei Province,Central China, 2013–2017

H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus(AIV) is an influenza A virus that is widely spread throughout Asia, where it jeopardizes the poultry industry and provides genetic material for emerging human pathogens. To better understand the epidemicity and genetics of H9 subtype AIVs, we conducted active surveillance in live poultry markets(LPMs) in Hubei Province from 2013 to 2017. A total of 4798 samples were collected from apparent healthy poultry and environment. Realtime RT-PCR revealed that the positivity rate of influenza A was 26.6%(1275/4798), of which the H9 subtype accounted for 50.3%(641/1275) of the positive samples. Of the 132 H9N2 viral strains isolated, 48 representative strains were subjected to evolutionary analysis and genotyping. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all H9N2 viral genes had 91.1%–100% nucleotide homology, clustered with genotype 57, and had high homology with human H9N2 viruses isolated from2013 to 2017 in China. Using a nucleotide divergence cutoff of 95%, we identified ten distinct H9N2 genotypes that continued to change over time. Molecular analysis demonstrated that six H9N2 isolates had additional potential glycosylation sites at position 218 in the hemagglutinin protein, and all isolates had I155 T and Q226 L mutations. Moreover, 44 strains had A558 V mutations in the PB2 protein and four had E627 V mutations, along with H9N2 human infection strains A/Beijing/1/2016 and A/Beijing/1/2017. These results emphasize that the H9N2 influenza virus in Hubei continues to mutate and undergo mammalian adaptation changes, indicating the necessity of strengthening the surveillance of the AIV H9N2 subtype in LPMs.     

Genetic and biological properties of H7N9 avian influenza viruses detected after application of the H7N9 poultry vaccine in China

The H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) that emerged in China have caused five waves of human infection. Further human cases have been successfully prevented since September 2017 through the use of an H7N9 vaccine in poultry. However, the H7N9 AIV has not been eradicated from poultry in China, and its evolution remains largely unexplored. In this study, we isolated 19 H7N9 AIVs during surveillance and diagnosis from February 2018 to December 2019, and genetic analysis showed that these viruses have formed two different genotypes. Animal studies indicated that the H7N9 viruses are highly lethal to chicken, cause mild infection in ducks, but have distinct pathotypes in mice. The viruses bound to avian-type receptors with high affinity, but gradually lost their ability to bind to human-type receptors. Importantly, we found that H7N9 AIVs isolated in 2019 were antigenically different from the H7N9 vaccine strain that was used for H7N9 influenza control in poultry, and that replication of these viruses cannot, therefore, be completely prevented in vaccinated chickens. We further revealed that two amino acid mutations at positions 135 and 160 in the HA protein added two glycosylation sites and facilitated the escape of the H7N9 viruses from the vaccine-induced immunity. Our study provides important insights into H7N9 virus evolution and control.     

Comparative Pathogenesis of an Avian H5N2 and a Swine H1N1 Influenza Virus in Pigs

Pigs are considered intermediate hosts for the transmission of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) to humans but the basic organ pathogenesis of AIVs in pigs has been barely studied. We have used 42 four-week-old influenza naive pigs and two different inoculation routes (intranasal and intratracheal) to compare the pathogenesis of a low pathogenic (LP) H5N2 AIV with that of an H1N1 swine influenza virus. The respiratory tract and selected extra-respiratory tissues were examined for virus replication by titration, immunofluorescence and RT-PCR throughout the course of infection. Both viruses caused a productive infection of the entire respiratory tract and epithelial cells in the lungs were the major target. Compared to the swine virus, the AIV produced lower virus titers and fewer antigen positive cells at all levels of the respiratory tract. The respiratory part of the nasal mucosa in particular showed only rare AIV positive cells and this was associated with reduced nasal shedding of the avian compared to the swine virus. The titers and distribution of the AIV varied extremely between individual pigs and were strongly affected by the route of inoculation. Gross lung lesions and clinical signs were milder with the avian than with the swine virus, corresponding with lower viral loads in the lungs. The brainstem was the single extra-respiratory tissue found positive for virus and viral RNA with both viruses. Our data do not reject the theory of the pig as an intermediate host for AIVs, but they suggest that AIVs need to undergo genetic changes to establish full replication potential in pigs. From a biomedical perspective, experimental LP H5 AIV infection of pigs may be useful to examine heterologous protection provided by H5 vaccines or other immunization strategies, as well as for further studies on the molecular pathogenesis and neurotropism of AIVs in mammals.     

Molecular basis of efficient replication and pathogenicity of H9N2 avian influenza viruses in mice

H9N2 subtype avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have shown expanded host range and can infect mammals, such as humans and swine. To date the mechanisms of mammalian adaptation and interspecies transmission of H9N2 AIVs remain poorly understood. To explore the molecular basis determining mammalian adaptation of H9N2 AIVs, we compared two avian field H9N2 isolates in a mouse model: one (A/chicken/Guangdong/TS/2004, TS) is nonpathogenic, another one (A/chicken/Guangdong/V/2008, V) is lethal with efficient replication in mouse brains. In order to determine the basis of the differences in pathogenicity and brain tropism between these two viruses, recombinants with a single gene from the TS (or V) virus in the background of the V (or TS) virus were generated using reverse genetics and evaluated in a mouse model. The results showed that the PB2 gene is the major factor determining the virulence in the mouse model although other genes also have variable impacts on virus replication and pathogenicity. Further studies using PB2 chimeric viruses and mutated viruses with a single amino acid substitution at position 627 [glutamic acid (E) to lysine, (K)] in PB2 revealed that PB2 627K is critical for pathogenicity and viral replication of H9N2 viruses in mouse brains. All together, these results indicate that the PB2 gene and especially position 627 determine virus replication and pathogenicity in mice. This study provides insights into the molecular basis of mammalian adaptation and interspecies transmission of H9N2 AIVs.     

Genetic compatibility and virulence of reassortants derived from contemporary avian H5N1 and human H3N2 influenza A viruses

The segmented structure of the influenza virus genome plays a pivotal role in its adaptation to new hosts and the emergence of pandemics. Despite concerns about the pandemic threat posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses, little is known about the biological properties of H5N1 viruses that may emerge following reassortment with contemporary human influenza viruses. In this study, we used reverse genetics to generate the 63 possible virus reassortants derived from H5N1 and H3N2 viruses, containing the H5N1 surface protein genes, and analyzed their viability, replication efficiency, and mouse virulence. Specific constellations of avian-human viral genes proved deleterious for viral replication in cell culture, possibly due to disruption of molecular interaction networks. In particular, striking phenotypes were noted with heterologous polymerase subunits, as well as NP and M, or NS. However, nearly one-half of the reassortants replicated with high efficiency in vitro, revealing a high degree of compatibility between avian and human virus genes. Thirteen reassortants displayed virulent phenotypes in mice and may pose the greatest threat for mammalian hosts. Interestingly, one of the most pathogenic reassortants contained avian PB1, resembling the 1957 and 1968 pandemic viruses. Our results reveal the broad spectrum of phenotypes associated with H5N1/H3N2 reassortment and a possible role for the avian PB1 in the emergence of pandemic influenza. These observations have important implications for risk assessment of H5N1 reassortant viruses detected in surveillance programs.     

Detection and Genetic Characteristics of H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses from Live Poultry Markets in Hunan Province,China

H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are highly prevalent and of low pathogenicity in domestic poultry. These viruses show a high genetic compatibility with other subtypes of AIVs and have been involved in the genesis of H5N1, H7N9 and H10N8 viruses causing severe infection in humans. The first case of human infection with H9N2 viruses in Hunan province of China have been confirmed in November 2013 and identified that H9N2 viruses from live poultry markets (LPMs) near the patient’s house could be the source of infection. However, the prevalence, distribution and genetic characteristics of H9N2 viruses in LPMs all over the province are not clear. We collected and tested 3943 environmental samples from 380 LPMs covering all 122 counties/districts of Hunan province from February to April, 2014. A total of 618 (15.7%) samples were H9 subtype positive and 200 (52.6%) markets in 98 (80.3%) counties/districts were contaminated with H9 subtype AIVs. We sequenced the entire coding sequences of the genomes of eleven H9N2 isolates from environmental samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the gene sequences of the H9N2 AIVs exhibited high homology (94.3%-100%). All eleven viruses were in a same branch in the phylogenetic trees and belonged to a same genotype. No gene reassortment had been found. Molecular analysis demonstrated that all the viruses had typical molecular characteristics of contemporary avian H9N2 influenza viruses. Continued surveillance of AIVs in LPMs is warranted for identification of further viral evolution and novel reassortants with pandemic potential.     

表达禽流感病毒M2基因的重组马立克氏病病毒的构建

将禽流感病毒M2基因克隆于真核表达质粒pIRES-EGFP中,使其位于pCMV启动子的调控下,并与绿色荧光蛋白基因（EGFP）串联后,将上述串联基因插入到含MDV CVI988的非必需区US基因的重组质粒pUS2中,构建带标记的重组质粒,然后将此重组质粒转染感染了MDV CVI988的鸡胚成纤维细胞,利用同源重组的方法,筛选了表达禽流感病毒M2基因的重组病毒MDV1。经PCR、Dot-blotting,Western-blotting等实验的结果表明,禽流感病毒M2基因的确插入到MDV1（CVI988）基因组中并获得表达。重组MDV1免疫1日龄SPF鸡21天后,用ELISA可检测到M2蛋白的特异性抗体。接种了重组病毒rMDV的鸡体内针对H9N2疫苗血凝素的抗体滴度(p<0.05)明显提高,以禽流感病毒AIV A/Chicken/Guangdong/00（H9N2）攻毒后进行病毒重分离试验的结果发现,重组病毒能有效地降低病毒的排出量(p<0.01),说明该重组病毒可以用于防制禽流感的免疫。     

禽流感病毒分离株NS基因同源性及等位基因类型分析

目的　克隆测定国内具有代表性的禽流感病毒 (AIV)的非结构 (NS)蛋白基因核苷酸序列 ,分析其同源性和等位基因类型 ,为进一步探索禽流感NS蛋白抗体监测方法奠定基础。方法　经RT PCR扩增了国内 3株H9N2、2株H5N1、2株H7N2亚型AIV分离株的NS蛋白基因 ,并把扩增的基因片段克隆到pGEM T载体中测序 ,将测序结果与GenBank中的核苷酸序列进行同源性比较 ,绘制基因进化树。结果　经测序获得了各AIV分离株NS基因的完整编码序列。同源性分析表明 ,3株H9亚型AIV的NS基因之间的同源性为 96 %～ 98% ;两株H5亚型AIVNS基因同源性为 91 6 % ;两株H7亚型AIV的NS基因同源性为 98 9%。H5和H9亚型分离株的NS基因之间的同源性均高于 90 % ;而H7N2亚型分离株与其它两种亚型分离株的NS基因同源性约为 6 0 %～ 70 %。在AIVNS基因系统发育进化树中 ,H5、H9亚型分离株都处于等位基因A群内 ;3株H9亚型分离株的进化关系较近 ,与香港、广东的部分H5N1病毒株起源相同 ,而 2株H5病毒的NS基因则处于不同分枝内 ;2株H7亚型分离株的NS基因都处于等位基因B群内 ,进化关系较近。结论　这 7株国内AIV分离株的NS基因之间的同源性差异较大 ,约为 6 0 %～ 99% ,且包括A、B两种类型的等位基因     

Homologous recombination as an evolutionary force in the avian influenza A virus

Avian influenza A viruses (AIVs), including the H5N1, H9N2,and H7N7 subtypes, have been directly transmitted to humans,raising concerns over the possibility of a new influenza pandemic.To prevent a future avian influenza pandemic, it is very importantto fully understand the molecular basis driving the change inAIV virulence and host tropism. Although virulent variants ofother viruses have been generated by homologous recombination,the occurrence of homologous recombination within AIV segmentsis controversial and far from proven. This study reports threecirculating H9N2 AIVs with similar mosaic PA genes descendedfrom H9N2 and H5N1. Additionally, many homologous recombinantsare also found deposited in GenBank. Recombination events canoccur in PB2, PB1, PA, HA, and NP segments and between lineagesof the same/different serotype. These results collectively demonstratethat intragenic recombination plays a role in driving the evolutionof AIVs, potentially resulting in effects on AIV virulence andhost tropism changes.     

Identification of potential virulence determinants associated H9N2 avian influenza virus PB2 E627K mutation by comparative proteomics

Some highly pathogenic H5N1, H7N9, and H10N8 isolated from China carried six internal genes from H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIV) and the key amino acids at 627 in PB2 of these viruses had mutated to K. To investigate the mechanism of increased pathogenicity for H9N2 AIV PB2 627K, we analyzed the difference in mouse lung proteins expression response to PB2 K627E. By iTRAQ method, we found that the mutated K627E contributed to a set of differentially expressed lung proteins, including five upregulated proteins and nine downregulated proteins at 12 h postinfection; ten upregulated proteins and 25 downregulated proteins at 72 h postinfection. These proteins were chiefly involved within the cytoskeleton and motor proteins, antiviral proteins, regulation of glucocorticoids signal‐associated proteins, pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory proteins. Alteration of moesin, FKBP4, Hsp70, ezrin, and pulmonary surfactant protein A (sp‐A) may play important roles in increasing virulence and decreasing lungs antiviral response. Further, three upregulated proteins (moesin, ezrin, and sp‐A) caused by PB2 K627E were also confirmed in A549 cells. Moreover, overexpression of sp‐A in A549 inhibited virus replication and downregulation promoted virus replication. In this study, sp‐A as a potential virulence determinant associated H9N2 AIV PB2 E627K mutation was identified using comparative proteomics.     

H9N2禽流感病毒反向遗传系统转录／表达载体的构建和验证

设计带有BsmBI、BsaI或AarI酶切位点的引物,用RT-PCR扩增H9N2亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)的8个基因全长片段,克隆入双向转录/表达载体pHW2000,并在PB2、PB1和NA基因中共引入了3个沉默突变标签。将其2个表面基因(HA和NA基因)加上任意1个内部基因,而其它5个内部基因来自A/WSN/33,进行了6种3 5组合形式的基因重排,把相应组合的转录/表达质粒共转染COS-1细胞,均产生了预期组合、有感染性的H9N2亚型流感病毒,表明亲缘关系遥远的流感病毒可以互相获取基因片段产生重组病毒,提示表面结构基因和单个内部基因不足以限制H9N2AIV在哺乳动物细胞上的宿主范围,同时也验证了构建的8个转录/表达载体均能有效工作,为进一步研究H9N2亚型AIV基因结构与功能、AIV与宿主之间的关系打下了基础。     

鸭源H9N2AIV血凝素基因序列比较

为明确国内外鸭源H9N2亚型禽流感病毒(Avian influenza virus,AIV)血凝素基因(hemagglutinin,HA)的遗传进化关系、血凝素蛋白裂解位点的氨基酸结构特征和血凝素蛋白受体结合位点的氨基酸变异特征,本研究选取GenBank中登录鸭源H9N2亚型AIV HA基因,通过MEGA4.1进行比对和分析,并绘制其遗传进化树。结果表明,鸭源H9N2亚型AIV在遗传进化上分为2大谱系:即Ck-Bj-1-94-like和North-Ame-like,中国大陆鸭源H9N2亚型AIV和亚欧美其它国家鸭源H9N2亚型AIV在遗传进化上分居完全不同的谱系,相互之间遗传进化关系较远。从血凝素受体结合位点看,亚欧美国家鸭源H9N2亚型AIV在第183、190和226位点的氨基酸均为鸭源AIV经典H、E和Q,且高度保守。但中国大陆地区H9N2亚型AIV第183位为N;第190位为A or V or T,与中国大陆鸡源H9N2亚型AIV一致;第226位中国鸭源H9N2亚型AIV有相当一部分为L,且近年福建省H9N2亚型AIV分离株在此处均为L。提示我们,中国大陆地区H9N2亚型AIV鸭鸡和鸡鸭相互交叉感染较为普遍。     

Investigation of Avian Influenza Infections in Wild Birds,Poultry and Humans in Eastern Dongting Lake,China

We investigated avian influenza infections in wild birds, poultry, and humans at Eastern Dongting Lake, China. We analyzed 6,621 environmental samples, including fresh fecal and water samples, from wild birds and domestic ducks that were collected from the Eastern Dongting Lake area from November 2011 to April 2012. We also conducted two cross-sectional serological studies in November 2011 and April 2012, with 1,050 serum samples collected from people exposed to wild birds and/or domestic ducks. Environmental samples were tested for the presence of avian influenza virus (AIV) using quantitative PCR assays and virus isolation techniques. Hemagglutination inhibition assays were used to detect antibodies against AIV H5N1, and microneutralization assays were used to confirm these results. Among the environmental samples from wild birds and domestic ducks, AIV prevalence was 5.19 and 5.32%, respectively. We isolated 39 and 5 AIVs from the fecal samples of wild birds and domestic ducks, respectively. Our analysis indicated 12 subtypes of AIV were present, suggesting that wild birds in the Eastern Dongting Lake area carried a diverse array of AIVs with low pathogenicity. We were unable to detect any antibodies against AIV H5N1 in humans, suggesting that human infection with H5N1 was rare in this region.     

NP, PB1, and PB2 viral genes contribute to altered replication of H5N1 avian influenza viruses in chickens

The virulence determinants for highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are considered multigenic, although the best characterized virulence factor is the hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site. The capability of influenza viruses to reassort gene segments is one potential way for new viruses to emerge with different virulence characteristics. To evaluate the role of other gene segments in virulence, we used reverse genetics to generate two H5N1 recombinant viruses with differing pathogenicity in chickens. Single-gene reassortants were used to determine which viral genes contribute to the altered virulence. Exchange of the PB1, PB2, and NP genes impacted replication of the reassortant viruses while also affecting the expression of specific host genes. Disruption of the parental virus' functional polymerase complexes by exchanging PB1 or PB2 genes decreased viral replication in tissues and consequently the pathogenicity of the viruses. In contrast, exchanging the NP gene greatly increased viral replication and expanded tissue tropism, thus resulting in decreased mean death times. Infection with the NP reassortant virus also resulted in the upregulation of gamma interferon and inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression. In addition to the impact of PB1, PB2, and NP on viral replication, the HA, NS, and M genes also contributed to the pathogenesis of the reassortant viruses. While the pathogenesis of AIVs in chickens is clearly dependent on the interaction of multiple gene products, we have shown that single-gene reassortment events are sufficient to alter the virulence of AIVs in chickens.     

Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Natural Recombinant H5N5 Influenza Virus from Ducks in Central China

We reported the complete genome sequence of an H5N5 avian influenza virus (AIV) that was first isolated from duck in central China in 2010. Genomic sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that this virus was a recombinant between H5N1 AIV circulated in southeastern Asia and an N5 subtype influenza virus. These data are beneficial for investigating the epidemiology and ecology of AIVs in central China.     

禽流感病毒H7N2血凝素HA1基因在大肠杆菌中的表达

目的　表达H7N2亚型禽流感病毒 (AIV)HA1基因 ,用于感染H7亚型禽流感病毒抗体的检测和HA1蛋白功能研究。方法　采用RT PCR方法对H7N2亚型AIVHA1基因进行扩增 ,将PCR产物克隆于pGEM T Easy载体 ,将该基因插入pGEX 4T 2中构建HA1基因原核表达载体 ,转化BL2 1大肠杆菌后 ,在IPTG诱导下表达HA1蛋白 ,Westernblot鉴定表达HA1蛋白。电洗脱方法纯化表达HA1蛋白 ,建立间接ELISA方法 ,对感染AIVH7、H9、H5亚型AIV阳性血清进行检测。结果　成功克隆H7N2亚型AIV的HA1基因 ,其核苷酸序列长度 96 6bp ,编码 32 2个氨基酸残基。构建HA1基因原核表达载体在大肠杆菌内表达出约 6 1× 10 3的HA1融合蛋白。Westernblot和ELISA方法鉴定表明 :表达HA1蛋白与感染H7亚型AIV鸡血清有反应 ,与H5、H9亚型AIV阳性血清没有反应。结论　本研究在大肠杆菌中成功表达了H7N2亚型AIVHA1基因蛋白 ,具有与感染H7亚型AIV阳性血清反应原性 ,不与H5和H9亚型AIV感染阳性血清发生反应。