Partial direct contact transmission in ferrets of a mallard H7N3 influenza virus with typical avian-like receptor specificity

Song, Haichen; Wan, Hongquan; Araya, Yonas; Pérez, Daniel R.

doi:10.1186/1743-422x-6-126

Cited by 23 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This is consistent with previous reports on limited seroconversion against H7 and H5 viruses (30,31). Collectively, the results of the WT H7N1 transmission study suggest that the virus has a limited ability to be transmitted to CH ferrets and is not capable of airborne transmission, consistent with similar studies of H7N3 viruses (5,26). A prominent feature of this experiment was the finding that two DI animals and one CH ferret developed neurological disease.…”

Section: Serial Passage Of H7n1 Yields a Virus Capable Of Airborne Trsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…All ferret studies were performed with approval from the UMD Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (protocols R-09-93 and R-12-101) and were performed under BSL3ϩ conditions in HEPA-filtered poultry isolators as previously described (25)(26)(27)(28). BSL3ϩ animal rooms are equipped with motion sensor digital video cameras in order to monitor animal behavior, as well as entry and exit of personnel.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Airborne Transmission of Highly Pathogenic H7N1 Influenza Virus in Ferrets

Sutton

Finch

Shao

et al. 2014

J Virol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Avian H7 influenza viruses are recognized as potential pandemic viruses, as personnel often become infected during poultry outbreaks. H7 infections in humans typically cause mild conjunctivitis; however, the H7N9 outbreak in the spring of 2013 has resulted in severe respiratory disease. To date, no H7 viruses have acquired the ability for sustained transmission among humans. Airborne transmission is considered a requirement for the emergence of pandemic influenza, and advanced knowledge of the molecular changes or signature required for transmission would allow early identification of pandemic vaccine seed stocks, screening and stockpiling of antiviral compounds, and eradication efforts focused on flocks harboring threatening viruses. Thus, we sought to determine if a highly pathogenic influenza A H7N1 (A/H7N1) virus with no history of human infection could become capable of airborne transmission among ferrets. We show that after 10 serial passages, A/H7N1 developed the ability to be transmitted to cohoused and airborne contact ferrets. Four amino acid mutations (PB2 T81I, NP V284M, and M1 R95K and Q211K) in the internal genes and a minimal amino acid mutation (K/R313R) in the stalk region of the hemagglutinin protein were associated with airborne transmission. Furthermore, transmission was not associated with loss of virulence. These findings highlight the importance of the internal genes in host adaptation and suggest that natural isolates carrying these mutations be further evaluated. Our results demonstrate that a highly pathogenic avian H7 virus can become capable of airborne transmission in a mammalian host, and they support ongoing surveillance and pandemic H7 vaccine development. IMPORTANCEThe major findings of this report are that a highly pathogenic strain of H7N1 avian influenza virus can be adapted to become capable of airborne transmission in mammals without mutations altering receptor specificity. Changes in receptor specificity have been shown to play a role in the ability of avian influenza viruses to cross the species barrier, and these changes are assumed to be essential. The work reported here challenges this paradigm, at least for the influenza viruses of the H7 subtype, which have recently become the focus of major attention, as they have crossed to humans.

show abstract

Section: Serial Passage Of H7n1 Yields a Virus Capable Of Airborne Trsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne Transmission of Highly Pathogenic H7N1 Influenza Virus in Ferrets

Sutton

Finch

Shao

et al. 2014

J Virol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Increased receptor binding for ␣2,6-linked sialic acid, conferred either by mutations in the receptor-binding domain, as seen in H7N9 LPAI virus, or by a deletion in the HA loop, as observed in A/New York/107 (H7N2) virus, has been associated with enhanced transmissibility for some H7 viruses, as has heightened viral replication conferred by the PB2-E627K mutation (14,16,34,35). However, other viruses, such as A/Mallard/Alberta/24/01 (H7N3) virus, which possess typical ␣2,3-linked sialic acid binding and have no known mammalian adaption mutations, still exhibit partial to full transmission among ferrets in direct contact (21,36), suggesting that other molecular determinants associated with H7 virus transmission remain unidentified.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogenesis and Transmission Assessments of Two H7N8 Influenza A Viruses Recently Isolated from Turkey Farms in Indiana Using Mouse and Ferret Models

Sun

Belser

Pulit-Penaloza

et al. 2016

J Virol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Avian influenza A H7 viruses have caused multiple outbreaks in domestic poultry throughout North America, resulting in occasional infections of humans in close contact with affected birds. In early 2016, the presence of H7N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses and closely related H7N8 low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses was confirmed in commercial turkey farms in Indiana. These H7N8 viruses represent the first isolation of this subtype in domestic poultry in North America, and their virulence in mammalian hosts and the potential risk for human infection are largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the ability of H7N8 HPAI and LPAI viruses to replicate in vitro in human airway cells and in vivo in mouse and ferret models. Both H7N8 viruses replicated efficiently in vitro and in vivo, but they exhibited substantial differences in disease severity in mammals. In mice, while the H7N8 LPAI virus largely remained avirulent, the H7N8 HPAI virus exhibited greater infectivity, virulence, and lethality. Both H7N8 viruses replicated similarly in ferrets, but only the H7N8 HPAI virus caused moderate weight loss, lethargy, and mortality. The H7N8 LPAI virus displayed limited transmissibility in ferrets placed in direct contact with an inoculated animal, while no transmission of H7N8 HPAI virus was detected. Our results indicate that the H7N8 avian influenza viruses from Indiana are able to replicate in mammals and cause severe disease but with limited transmission. The recent appearance of H7N8 viruses in domestic poultry highlights the need for continued influenza surveillance in wild birds and close monitoring of the potential risk to human health. IMPORTANCE H7 influenza viruses circulate in wild birds in the UnitedStates, but when the virus emerges in domestic poultry populations, the frequency of human exposure and the potential for human infections increases. An H7N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus and an H7N8 low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus were recently isolated from commercial turkey farms in Indiana. To determine the risk that these influenza viruses pose to humans, we assessed their pathogenesis and transmission in vitro and in mammalian models. We found that the H7N8 HPAI virus exhibited enhanced virulence, and although transmission was only observed with the H7N8 LPAI virus, the ability of this H7 virus to transmit in a mammalian host and quickly evolve to a more virulent strain is cause for concern. Our findings offer important insight into the potential for emerging H7 avian influenza viruses to acquire the ability to cause disease and transmit among mammals.

show abstract

“…Previous studies have shown that both LPAI and HPAI H7N3 viruses are capable of efficient replication throughout the respiratory tract of ferrets; however, H7N9 viruses have not been examined in this model (10,14,15,34). Ferrets were inoculated i.n.…”

Section: Pathogenicity Of H7n3 and H7n9 Influenza A Viruses Followingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, several North American low-pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) H7N2 and HPAI H7N3 viruses are highly infectious in mice and capable of limited transmission among ferrets in direct contact (11,14,15). Unlike other virus subtypes, H7 influenza viruses of both lineages have predominantly been associated with ocular disease, typically, conjunctivitis, in humans (1,3,7).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%