Emergence and dissemination of a swine H3N2 reassortant influenza virus with 2009 pandemic H1N1 genes in pigs in China

The 2009 pandemic influenza virus (pdm/09) has been frequently introduced to pigs and has reassorted with other swine viruses. Recently, H3N2 reassortants with pdm/09-like internal genes were isolated in Guangxi and Hong Kong, China. Genetic and epidemiological analyses suggest that these viruses have circulated in swine for some time. This is the first evidence that swine reassortant viruses with pdm/09-like genes may have become established in the field, altering the landscape of human and swine influenza.     

Identification of reassortant pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in Korean pigs

Since the 2009 pandemic human H1N1 influenza A virus emerged in April 2009, novel reassortant strains have been identified throughout the world. This paper describes the detection and isolation of reassortant strains associated with human pandemic influenza H1N1 and swine influenza H1N2 (SIV) viruses in swine populations in South Korea. Two influenza H1N2 reassortants were detected, and subtyped by PCR. The strains were isolated using Madin- Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, and genetically characterized by phylogenetic analysis for genetic diversity. They consisted of human, avian, and swine virus genes that were originated from the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus and a neuraminidase (NA) gene from H1N2 SIV previously isolated in North America. This identification of reassortment events in swine farms raises concern that reassortant strains may continuously circulate within swine populations, calling for the further study and surveillance of pandemic H1N1 among swine.     

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.     

Genetic characterization and pathogenicity of a reassortant Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus containing an internal gene cassette from 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus

Highlights
1. Identification of a reassortant EA H1N1 SIV (SD/18) which isolated from a pig farm in Shandong, north China.
2. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SD/18 virus containing a complete internal gene cassette from pdm/09 virus.
3. The results of pathogenicity in mice showed that the mortality rate of SD/18 virus in mice could reach 100%.
4. The potential risk of EA lineage SIVs to humans is very high and we need to pay enough attention to the different reassortant EA H1N1 viruses.     

Evolution of swine H3N2 influenza viruses in the United States

During 1998, severe outbreaks of influenza were observed in four swine herds in the United States. This event was unique because the causative agents, H3N2 influenza viruses, are infrequently isolated from swine in North America. Two antigenically distinct reassortant viruses (H3N2) were isolated from infected animals: a double-reassortant virus containing genes similar to those of human and swine viruses, and a triple-reassortant virus containing genes similar to those of human, swine, and avian influenza viruses (N. N. Zhou, D. A. Senne, J. S. Landgraf, S. L. Swenson, G. Erickson, K. Rossow, L. Liu, K.-J. Yoon, S. Krauss, and R. G. Webster, J. Virol. 73:8851-8856, 1999). Because the U.S. pig population was essentially naive in regard to H3N2 viruses, it was important to determine the extent of viral spread. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays of 4, 382 serum samples from swine in 23 states indicated that 28.3% of these animals had been exposed to classical swine-like H1N1 viruses and 20.5% had been exposed to the triple-reassortant-like H3N2 viruses. The HI data suggested that viruses antigenically related to the double-reassortant H3N2 virus have not become widespread in the U.S. swine population. The seroreactivity levels in swine serum samples and the nucleotide sequences of six additional 1999 isolates, all of which were of the triple-reassortant genotype, suggested that H3N2 viruses containing avian PA and PB2 genes had spread throughout much of the country. These avian-like genes cluster with genes from North American avian viruses. The worldwide predominance of swine viruses containing an avian-like internal gene component suggests that these genes may confer a selective advantage in pigs. Analysis of the 1999 swine H3N2 isolates showed that the internal gene complex of the triple-reassortant viruses was associated with three recent phylogenetically distinct human-like hemagglutinin (HA) molecules. Acquisition of HA genes from the human virus reservoir will significantly affect the efficacy of the current swine H3N2 vaccines. This finding supports continued surveillance of U.S. swine populations for influenza virus activity.     

一株H1N1亚型猪流感病毒的分离鉴定及全基因序列分析

2006年从辽宁省某猪场采集具有流感症状猪鼻拭子共30份,经9~11日龄SPF鸡胚分离,对分离株进行了血凝试验、血凝抑制试验、RT-PCR亚型鉴定,全基因序列比对和接种试验动物试验。结果表明:该毒株具有凝集0.5%鸡红细胞的活性,且与抗猪流感H1标准血清发生血凝抑制反应,RT-PCR分别扩增得到全基因8个片段,利用DNAStar生物学软件进行序列分析,HA基因与GenBank登录的H1~H16中的H1基因序列同源性最高,NA基因与N1~N9中的N1基因序列同源性最高,故该LN株分离毒为猪流感H1N1亚型病毒。全基因序列中,除了M基因不是猪源的,其它基因片段均与国内H1N1亚型猪流感参照株高度同源,推测LN株可能是由类人和类禽谱系的流感病毒与古典猪谱系的流感病毒重排形成的;用该病毒接种试验动物可成功复制出猪流感典型症状。该病毒的分离鉴定及全基因组序列分析为我国进一步调查猪流感的流行规律提供了基础数据。     

Genetic and antigenic characterization of swine H1N2 influenza viruses isolated from Korean pigs

H1N2 influenza viruses are circulating in pigs worldwide and cause considerable economic losses to the pig industry. We genetically analyzed the genes of our isolates from Korean pigs, and compared the antigenicity of our isolates with swine H1N2 viruses isolated from pigs in the U.S.A. In addition, we serologically surveyed the infection rate of swine H1N2 viruses in pigs. We found that H1N2 isolates from Korean pigs are genetically more related to swine H1N2 viruses isolated from pigs in the U.S.A. than those in European countries. When antigenicity was compared, our isolates were weakly reacted to antibodies against swine H1N2 viruses isolated from pigs in the U.S.A. The serological surveillance using sera from pigs in Korea showed that about 46% was positive for H1N2 viruses. Our results suggest that swine H1N2 viruses are widespread in Korean pigs, and the development of a vaccine against H1N2 viruses may help to control their infection in pigs.     

H3N2亚型猪流感病毒M1基因克隆及表达特性分析

从H3N2亚型猪流感病毒感染的鸡胚尿囊液中提取病毒基因组RNA,采用RT-PCR方法克隆M1全长基因,将M1基因亚克隆至pET-28a(+)表达载体中,构建重组表达质粒pET-28a-M1,将该重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21并经IPTG诱导表达。诱导产物经SDS-PAGE电泳分析显示重组蛋白M1获得大量表达,表达蛋白纯化后免疫Wistar大鼠制备多克隆抗体。Westernblotting检测结果表明制备的抗M1蛋白多克隆抗体可以识别大肠杆菌表达的M1蛋白和病毒感染细胞的病毒M1蛋白。构建M1基因真核重组质粒p3xFLAG-CMV-7.1-M1并转染Vero细胞,Western blotting检测表明抗M1蛋白多克隆抗体可以识别在Vero细胞中得到表达的M1蛋白,成功建立M1基因的真核表达系统。分析了病毒感染过程中M1蛋白的变化及其作为病毒复制指示分子的可能性。鼠源M1蛋白多克隆抗体的制备和M1基因真核重组表达质粒的构建,为进一步研究猪流感病毒的复制机理以及M1蛋白在病毒复制过程中的生物学功能奠定了基础。     

Virulence and genetic compatibility of polymerase reassortant viruses derived from the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus and circulating influenza A viruses

Gene mutations and reassortment are key mechanisms by which influenza A virus acquires virulence factors. To evaluate the role of the viral polymerase replication machinery in producing virulent pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza viruses, we generated various polymerase point mutants (PB2, 627K/701N; PB1, expression of PB1-F2 protein; and PA, 97I) and reassortant viruses with various sources of influenza viruses by reverse genetics. Although the point mutations produced no significant change in pathogenicity, reassortment between the pandemic A/California/04/09 (CA04, H1N1) and current human and animal influenza viruses produced variants possessing a broad spectrum of pathogenicity in the mouse model. Although most polymerase reassortants had attenuated pathogenicity (including those containing seasonal human H3N2 and high-pathogenicity H5N1 virus segments) compared to that of the parental CA04 (H1N1) virus, some recombinants had significantly enhanced virulence. Unexpectedly, one of the five highly virulent reassortants contained a A/Swine/Korea/JNS06/04(H3N2)-like PB2 gene with no known virulence factors; the other four had mammalian-passaged avian-like genes encoding PB2 featuring 627K, PA featuring 97I, or both. Overall, the reassorted polymerase complexes were only moderately compatible for virus rescue, probably because of disrupted molecular interactions involving viral or host proteins. Although we observed close cooperation between PB2 and PB1 from similar virus origins, we found that PA appears to be crucial in maintaining viral gene functions in the context of the CA04 (H1N1) virus. These observations provide helpful insights into the pathogenic potential of reassortant influenza viruses composed of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus and prevailing human or animal influenza viruses that could emerge in the future.     

Evolutionary and transmission dynamics of reassortant H5N1 influenza virus in Indonesia

H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses have seriously affected the Asian poultry industry since their recurrence in 2003. The viruses pose a threat of emergence of a global pandemic influenza through point mutation or reassortment leading to a strain that can effectively transmit among humans. In this study, we present phylogenetic evidences for the interlineage reassortment among H5N1 HPAI viruses isolated from humans, cats, and birds in Indonesia, and identify the potential genetic parents of the reassorted genome segments. Parsimony analyses of viral phylogeography suggest that the reassortant viruses may have originated from greater Jakarta and surroundings, and subsequently spread to other regions in the West Java province. In addition, Bayesian methods were used to elucidate the genetic diversity dynamics of the reassortant strain and one of its genetic parents, which revealed a more rapid initial growth of genetic diversity in the reassortant viruses relative to their genetic parent. These results demonstrate that interlineage exchange of genetic information may play a pivotal role in determining viral genetic diversity in a focal population. Moreover, our study also revealed significantly stronger diversifying selection on the M1 and PB2 genes in the lineages preceding and subsequent to the emergence of the reassortant viruses, respectively. We discuss how the corresponding mutations might drive the adaptation and onward transmission of the newly formed reassortant viruses.     

Isolation and characterization of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 from donkeys

Background  

The highly pathogenic H5N1 is a major avian pathogen that crosses species barriers and seriously affects humans as well as some mammals. It mutates in an intensified manner and is considered a potential candidate for the possible next pandemic with all the catastrophic consequences.     

Epidemiological update on swine influenza (H1N1) in pigs

The 2009 H1N1 pandemic has slowed down its spread after initial speed of transmission. The conventional swine influenza H1N1 virus (SIV) in pig populations worldwide needs to be differentiated from pandemic H1N1 influenza virus, however it is also essential to know about the exact role of pigs in the spread and mutations taking place in pig-to-pig transmission. The present paper reviews epidemiological features of classical SIV and its differentiation with pandemic influenza.     

中国“人-猪-禽”基因重排H1N2亚型猪流感病毒全基因克隆及遗传进化的研究

[目的]为了研究2006年从广西病猪肺组织中分离的H1N2亚型猪流感病毒(SIV)A/Swine/Guangxi/13/2006(H1N2)(Sw/Gx/13/06)的遗传学特性和8个基因的来源.[方法]运用RT PCR方法对其全基因进行了克隆并运用分子生物学软件对其基因序列进行了遗传进化分析.[结果]血凝素(HA)、核蛋白(NP)、基质蛋白(M)和非结构蛋白(NS)基因来源于猪古典H1N1亚型流感病毒;神经氨酸酶(NA)和聚合酶蛋白(PB1)基因来源于人的H3N2亚型流感病毒;聚合酶蛋白(PA)和聚合酶蛋白(PB2)基因来自于禽流感病毒.[结论]可见Sw/GX/13/06是一株"人-猪-禽"三源基因重排H1N2亚型SIV且与美国(1999-2001年)和韩国(2002年)分离到该型病毒的有明显的亲缘关系.据我们所知,这是中国首次报道含有禽流感病毒基因片段的重排H1N2 SIV,该病毒是否对养猪业和人类公共卫生健康具有潜在的威胁,有待于进一步研究.     

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.     

Molecular epidemiology of A/H3N2 and A/H1N1 influenza virus during a single epidemic season in the United States

To determine the spatial and temporal dynamics of influenza A virus during a single epidemic, we examined whole-genome sequences of 284 A/H1N1 and 69 A/H3N2 viruses collected across the continental United States during the 2006-2007 influenza season, representing the largest study of its kind undertaken to date. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that multiple clades of both A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 entered and co-circulated in the United States during this season, even in localities that are distant from major metropolitan areas, and with no clear pattern of spatial spread. In addition, co-circulating clades of the same subtype exchanged genome segments through reassortment, producing both a minor clade of A/H3N2 viruses that appears to have re-acquired sensitivity to the adamantane class of antiviral drugs, as well as a likely antigenically distinct A/H1N1 clade that became globally dominant following this season. Overall, the co-circulation of multiple viral clades during the 2006-2007 epidemic season revealed patterns of spatial spread that are far more complex than observed previously, and suggests a major role for both migration and reassortment in shaping the epidemiological dynamics of human influenza A virus.     

Pathogenicity and transmission in pigs of the novel A(H3N2)v influenza virus isolated from humans and characterization of swine H3N2 viruses isolated in 2010-2011

Swine influenza virus (SIV) H3N2 with triple reassorted internal genes (TRIG) has been enzootic in Unites States since 1998. Transmission of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) virus to pigs in the United States was followed by reassortment with endemic SIV, resulting in reassorted viruses that include novel H3N2 genotypes (rH3N2p). Between July and December 2011, 12 cases of human infections with swine-lineage H3N2 viruses containing the pandemic matrix (pM) gene [A(H3N2)v] were detected. Whole-genome analysis of H3N2 viruses isolated from pigs from 2009 to 2011 sequenced in this study and other available H3N2 sequences showed six different rH3N2p genotypes present in the U.S. swine population since 2009. The presence of the pM gene was a common feature among all rH3N2p genotypes, but no specific genotype appeared to predominate in the swine population. We compared the pathogenic, transmission, genetic, and antigenic properties of a human A(H3N2)v isolate and two swine H3N2 isolates, H3N2-TRIG and rH3N2p. Our in vivo study detected no increased virulence in A(H3N2)v or rH3N2p viruses compared to endemic H3N2-TRIG virus. Antibodies to cluster IV H3N2-TRIG and rH3N2p viruses had reduced cross-reactivity to A(H3N2)v compared to other cluster IV H3N2-TRIG and rH3N2p viruses. Genetic analysis of the hemagglutinin gene indicated that although rH3N2p and A(H3N2)v are related to cluster IV of H3N2-TRIG, some recent rH3N2p isolates appeared to be forming a separate cluster along with the human isolates of A(H3N2)v. Continued monitoring of these H3N2 viruses is necessary to evaluate the evolution and potential loss of population immunity in swine and humans.     

Characterization of H1N1 swine influenza viruses circulating in Canadian pigs in 2009

The 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1), of apparent swine origin, may have evolved in pigs unnoticed because of insufficient surveillance. Consequently, the need for surveillance of influenza viruses circulating in pigs has received added attention. In this study we characterized H1N1 viruses isolated from Canadian pigs in 2009. Isolates from May 2009 were comprised of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase (NA) genes of classical SIV origin in combination with the North American triple-reassortant internal gene (TRIG) cassette, here termed contemporary SIV (conSIV) H1N1. These conSIV H1N1 viruses were contiguous with the North American αH1 cluster, which was distinct from the pH1N1 isolates that were antigenically more related to the γH1 cluster. After the initial isolation of pH1N1 from an Alberta pig farm in early May 2009, pH1N1 was found several times in Canadian pigs. These pH1N1 isolates were genetically and antigenically homogeneous. In addition, H1N1 viruses bearing seasonal human H1 and N1 genes together with the TRIG cassette and an NA encoding an oseltamivir-resistance marker were isolated from pigs. The NS gene of one of these seasonal human-like SIV (shSIV) H1N1 isolates was homologous to pH1N1 NS, implicating reassortment between the two strains. Antigenic cross-reactivity was observed between pH1N1 and conSIV but not with shSIV H1N1. In summary, although there was cocirculation of pH1N1 with conSIV and shSIV H1N1 in Canadian pigs after May 2009, there was no evidence supporting the presence of pH1N1 in pigs prior to May 2009. The possibility for further reassortants being generated exists and should be closely monitored.     

Detection and pathogenesis of a novel swine H3N2 influenza virus containing three genes from the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza viruses in Korea in 2015

正Dear Editor,Influenza A viruses cause pandemics at an interval of approximately 10–40 years,and pigs are regarded as a"mixing vessel"because they are easily infected with avian and human influenza viruses(Ito et al.,1998).According to previous studies,H3N2,H1N2,and H1N1     

Isolation and characterization of H4N6 avian influenza viruses from pigs with pneumonia in Canada

In October 1999, H4N6 influenza A viruses were isolated from pigs with pneumonia on a commercial swine farm in Canada. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequences of all eight viral RNA segments demonstrated that these are wholly avian influenza viruses of the North American lineage. To our knowledge, this is the first report of interspecies transmission of an avian H4 influenza virus to domestic pigs under natural conditions.     

Structural characterization of the 1918 influenza virus H1N1 neuraminidase

Influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) plays a crucial role in facilitating the spread of newly synthesized virus in the host and is an important target for controlling disease progression. The NA crystal structure from the 1918 "Spanish flu" (A/Brevig Mission/1/18 H1N1) and that of its complex with zanamivir (Relenza) at 1.65-A and 1.45-A resolutions, respectively, corroborated the successful expression of correctly folded NA tetramers in a baculovirus expression system. An additional cavity adjacent to the substrate-binding site is observed in N1, compared to N2 and N9 NAs, including H5N1. This cavity arises from an open conformation of the 150 loop (Gly147 to Asp151) and appears to be conserved among group 1 NAs (N1, N4, N5, and N8). It closes upon zanamivir binding. Three calcium sites were identified, including a novel site that may be conserved in N1 and N4. Thus, these high-resolution structures, combined with our recombinant expression system, provide new opportunities to augment the limited arsenal of therapeutics against influenza.