Reassortant H1N1 influenza virus vaccines protect pigs against pandemic H1N1 influenza virus and H1N2 swine influenza virus challenge

Influenza A (H1N1) virus has caused human influenza outbreaks in a worldwide pandemic since April 2009. Pigs have been found to be susceptible to this influenza virus under experimental and natural conditions, raising concern about their potential role in the pandemic spread of the virus. In this study, we generated a high-growth reassortant virus (SC/PR8) that contains the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes from a novel H1N1 isolate, A/Sichuan/1/2009 (SC/09), and six internal genes from A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) virus, by genetic reassortment. The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of this reassortant virus were evaluated at different doses in a challenge model using a homologous SC/09 or heterologous A/Swine/Guangdong/1/06(H1N2) virus (GD/06). Two doses of SC/PR8 virus vaccine elicited high-titer serum hemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibodies specific for the 2009 H1N1 virus and conferred complete protection against challenge with either SC/09 or GD/06 virus, with reduced lung lesions and viral shedding in vaccine-inoculated animals compared with non-vaccinated control animals. These results indicated for the first time that a high-growth SC/PR8 reassortant H1N1 virus exhibits properties that are desirable to be a promising vaccine candidate for use in swine in the event of a pandemic H1N1 influenza.     

抗H3N2亚型猪流感病毒单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

采用纯化的H3N2亚型猪流感病毒(SIV)尿囊液作为免疫原免疫6～8周龄Balb/c小鼠,取免疫小鼠脾细胞与骨髓瘤细胞(SP2/0)融合,用间接ELISA方法筛选分泌抗SIV-H3N2的阳性细胞株,经克隆获得7株亲和力较高的杂交瘤细胞株,分别命名为1C9、2C5、2F10、3D3、4E8、5C7、5D12,用其制备的腹水ELISA效价可达1×106。通过抗体亚型测定,间接免疫荧光试验及免疫印迹试验分析鉴定,该7株单抗均为抗H3N2亚型SIV的特异性单克隆抗体,而且与其他亚型猪流感病毒、猪细小病毒、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒、猪圆环病毒和猪瘟病毒等均无交叉反应,为H3N2亚型SIV的鉴别诊断奠定了基础。     

Investigations of the efficacy of European H1N1- and H3N2-based swine influenza vaccines against the novel H1N2 subtype

The efficacy of a commercial swine influenza vaccine based on A/New Jersey/8/76 (H1N1) and A/Port Chalmers/1/73 (H3N2) strains was tested against challenge with an H1N2 swine influenza virus. Influenza virus-seronegative pigs were vaccinated twice with the vaccine when they were four and eight weeks old, or with the same vaccine supplemented with an H1N2 component. Control pigs were left unvaccinated. Three weeks after the second vaccination, all the pigs were challenged intratracheally with the swine influenza strain Sw/Gent/7625/99 (H1N2). The commercial vaccine induced cross-reactive antibodies to H1N2, as detected by the virus neutralisation (VN) assay, but VN antibody titres were 18 times lower than in the pigs vaccinated with the H1N2-supplemented vaccine. The challenge produced severe respiratory signs in nine of 10 unvaccinated control pigs, which developed high H1N2 virus titres in the lungs 24 and 72 hours after the challenge. Vaccination with the commercial vaccine resulted in milder respiratory signs, but H1N2 virus replication was not prevented. Mean virus titres in the pigs vaccinated with the commercial vaccine were 1-5 log10 lower than in the controls at 24 hours but no different at 72 hours. In contrast, the H1N2-supplemented vaccine prevented respiratory disease in most pigs. There was a 4-5 log10 reduction in the mean virus titre at 24 hours in the pigs vaccinated with this vaccine, and no detectable virus replication at 72 hours. These data indicate that the commercial swine influenza vaccine did not confer adequate protection against the H1N2 subtype.     

Identification and characterization of H2N3 avian influenza virus from backyard poultry and comparison with novel H2N3 swine influenza virus

In early 2007, H2N3 influenza virus was isolated from a duck and a chicken in two separate poultry flocks in Ohio. Since the same subtype influenza virus with hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) genes of avian lineage was also identified in a swine herd in Missouri in 2006, the objective of this study was to characterize and compare the genetic, antigenic, and biologic properties of the avian and swine isolates. Avian isolates were low pathogenic by in vivo chicken pathogenicity testing. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed that all genes of the avian isolates were comprised of avian lineages, whereas the swine isolates contained contemporary swine internal gene segments, demonstrating that the avian H2N3 viruses were not directly derived from the swine virus. Sequence comparisons for the H and N genes demonstrated that the avian isolates were similar but not identical to the swine isolates. Accordingly, the avian and swine isolates were also antigenically related as determined by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and virus neutralization assays, suggesting that both avian and swine isolates originated from the same group of H2N3 avian influenza viruses. Although serological surveys using the HI assay on poultry flocks and swine herds in Ohio did not reveal further spread of H2 virus from the index flocks, surveillance is important to ensure the virus is not reintroduced to domestic swine or poultry. Contemporary H2N3 avian influenza viruses appear to be easily adaptable to unnatural hosts such as poultry and swine, raising concern regarding the potential for interspecies transmission of avian viruses to humans.     

Efficacy of a pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus vaccine in pigs against the pandemic influenza virus is superior to commercially available swine influenza vaccines

In April 2009 a new influenza A/H1N1 strain, currently named "pandemic (H1N1) influenza 2009" (H1N1v), started the first official pandemic in humans since 1968. Several incursions of this virus in pig herds have also been reported from all over the world. Vaccination of pigs may be an option to reduce exposure of human contacts with infected pigs, thereby preventing cross-species transfer, but also to protect pigs themselves, should this virus cause damage in the pig population. Three swine influenza vaccines, two of them commercially available and one experimental, were therefore tested and compared for their efficacy against an H1N1v challenge. One of the commercial vaccines is based on an American classical H1N1 influenza strain, the other is based on a European avian H1N1 influenza strain. The experimental vaccine is based on reassortant virus NYMC X179A (containing the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of A/California/7/2009 (H1N1v) and the internal genes of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1)). Excretion of infectious virus was reduced by 0.5-3 log(10) by the commercial vaccines, depending on vaccine and sample type. Both vaccines were able to reduce virus replication especially in the lower respiratory tract, with less pathological lesions in vaccinated and subsequently challenged pigs than in unvaccinated controls. In pigs vaccinated with the experimental vaccine, excretion levels of infectious virus in nasal and oropharyngeal swabs, were at or below 1 log(10)TCID(50) per swab and lasted for only 1 or 2 days. An inactivated vaccine containing the HA and NA of an H1N1v is able to protect pigs from an infection with H1N1v, whereas swine influenza vaccines that are currently available are of limited efficaciousness. Whether vaccination of pigs against H1N1v will become opportune remains to be seen and will depend on future evolution of this strain in the pig population. Close monitoring of the pig population, focussing on presence and evolution of influenza strains on a cross-border level would therefore be advisable.     

Novel swine influenza virus subtype H3N1 in Italy

To date, three subtypes of swine influenza viruses, H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 have been isolated in Italy. In 2006, a novel swine influenza virus subtype (H3N1) was isolated from coughing pigs. RT-PCR performed on lung tissues, experimental infection in pigs with the novel isolate, and cloning the virus by plaque assay confirmed this unique H and N combination. The novel isolate was also antigenically and genetically characterized. Genetic and phylogenetic analysis showed that the complete HA gene of the H3N1 strain has the highest nucleotide identity to three Italian H3N2 strains, one isolated in 2001 and two in 2004, whereas the full length NA sequence is closely related to three H1N1 subtype viruses isolated in Italy in 2004. The remaining genes are also closely related to respective genes found in H1N1 and H3N2 SIVs currently circulating in Italy. This suggests that the novel SIV could be a reassortant between the H3N2 and H1N1 SIVs circulating in Italy.     

H3N2亚型猪流感病毒NS2基因表达产物特性分析

采用RT-PCR方法克隆猪流感病毒H3N2亚型NS2全长基因,构建NS2基因原核表达质粒pET-28a-NS2和真核表达质粒p3xFLAG-CMVNS2,在大肠杆菌和真核细胞内表达NS2基因,并制备抗NS2多克隆抗体。用所制备的抗体分析p3xFLAG-CMV-NS2转染表达NS2蛋白和病毒感染细胞内的NS2蛋白。结果表明:经终浓度为1 mmol/L的IPTG诱导后,重组蛋白NS2在大肠杆菌中得到表达。表达蛋白纯化后免疫Wistar大鼠制备抗NS2蛋白多克隆抗体,Western-blot分析表明抗NS2多克隆抗体可以识别大肠杆菌表达的NS2蛋白、转染Vero细胞表达的NS2蛋白和病毒感染细胞内的NS2蛋白。间接免疫荧光发现NS2蛋白主要定位于细胞质。本试验为进一步研究NS2蛋白在病毒复制过程中的生物学功能和猪流感病毒的复制机理奠定基础。     

H3N2亚型猪流感病毒NS1基因的克隆表达及间接ELISA检测方法的建立

采用RT-PCR方法成功扩增了H3N2亚型猪流感病毒(Swine influenza virus,SIV)四川分离株(A/Swine/Sichuan/01/2006)的NS1基因,将其克隆于原核表达载体pET-32a(+)中,构建了重组质粒pET32-NS1.将该质粒转化进大肠杆菌RosettaTM,经终浓度为0.5 mmol/L的IPTG诱导表达后,通过SDS-PAGE电泳表明融合的NS1蛋白得到了大量的表达,该融合蛋白的相对分子质量约为43 500.Western-blotting结果显示该蛋白能与阳性血清发生特异性反应具有很好的免疫反应原性.结果表明,所建立的ELISA方法与几种常见猪群传染病病原无交叉反应,具有较好的特异性、敏感性和重复性,可进一步优化应用于临床SIV的检测.     

4株H3N2亚型猪源流感病毒HA基因的序列测定与特性分析

从广东省不同猪场分离到4株H3N2亚型猪源流感病毒A/Swine/Guangdong/01/2004、A/Swine/Guang-dong/02/2004、A/Swine/Guangdong/03/2004、A/Swine/Guangdong/04/2004.根据GenBank公布的H3N2亚型猪源流感病毒的HA基因序列,设计1对引物,运用RT-PCR方法扩增四株病毒的HA基因,并进行测序和分析.同源性分析和遗传进化分析表明本实验的4株H3N2亚型SIV HA基因核苷酸序列同源性为99.8%～99.9%,在遗传进化树中均位于同一分支上.与参考毒株的比较分析表明,4个毒株与WHO推荐的2001-2004年北半球H3N2亚型流感疫苗株A/Moscow/10/99 HA基因的核苷酸序列同源性最高为99.4%～99.5%,4个毒株与A/Moscow/10/99 HA基因在遗传进化树中位于同一个小分支上.氨基酸序列比较发现,4个毒株HA基因裂解位点处的氨基酸序列均为PEKQTR↓G,4个毒株推导的氨基酸序列中均有11个糖基化位点,4个毒株HA蛋白226位受体结合位点(RBS)处氨基酸均为异亮氨酸(Ⅰ).4个毒株HA基因的氨基酸序列、受体结合位点以及糖基化位点均与A/Moscow/10/99相应的氨基酸序列一致.本试验的4株H3N2亚型猪源流感病毒的HA基因属于以A/Moscow/10/99为代表的近代类人H3N2亚型流感病毒,在一定程度上揭示了广东省H3N2亚型猪流感病毒HA基因进化与流行情况.     

Limited susceptibility and lack of systemic infection by an H3N2 swine influenza virus in intranasally inoculated chickens

Chickens were intranasally inoculated with the swine influenza virus (SIV) A/swine/NC/307408/04 (H3N2) (NC/04 SIV) to determine the infectivity of a North American SIV for chickens, as well as the possibility of chicken meat serving as a transmission vehicle for SIV. White leghorn (WL) layer-type chickens were used for initial pathotyping and infectivity tests, and a more comprehensive intranasal pathogenesis study was done with white Plymouth rock (WPR) broiler-type chickens. None of the NC/04 SIV-inoculated WL or WPR chickens displayed clinical signs. Serologic tests showed that the virus was able to infect both intranasally inoculated WL and WPR chickens, but the antibody titers were low, suggesting inefficient replication. Some of the NC/04 SIV-inoculated WL chickens shed low levels of virus, mostly from the alimentary tract, but viral shedding was not detected in NC/04 SIV-inoculated WPR chickens. The comprehensive pathogenesis study demonstrated that the virus did not cause systemic infections in WPR chickens, and feeding breast and thigh meat from the NC/04 SIV-inoculated WPR to WL chickens did not transmit NC/04 SIV.     

一株H9N2亚型猪流感病毒的遗传进化和致病性分析

本研究从有流感症状的病猪中分离到一株H9N2亚型猪流感病毒(SIV),命名为A/swine/Jiangsu/1/2015(SW/JS/1/15)。为探究其遗传特征和生物学特性,本研究采用RT-PCR技术扩增其全部基因节段后测序并进行遗传分析,并研究了其对鸡和豚鼠的致病特性。遗传进化分析显示,分离病毒SW/JS/1/15株是由BJ/94系、DK1系、G1系和F/98系4个分支病毒重组而成,8个基因节段均属于G57基因型。分离株HA蛋白裂解位点为PSRSSR*GL,符合低致病性流感病毒的特征。HA蛋白有9个潜在糖基化位点,其中218位糖基化位点缺失,145位与313位各新增一个糖基化位点。与疫苗株SH/F/98、SD/6/96、GD/SS/94相比,分离病毒HA抗原位点发生了G^90E、S^127R、S^145N、D^153G、N^167S、A^168N、A^198T、T^200R、N^201D、和Q^235M(H9numbering)突变;NA蛋白发生6个氨基酸突变:K^367R、K/E^368N、D^369N、D^401E、K^143N和T^434P。同时NA蛋白颈部缺失aa63~aa65。分离病毒的8个基因节段与2株禽源H9N2病毒的相应基因高度同源,其6个内部基因与两株人源H7N9病毒的内部基因高度同源。致病性试验结果显示分离病毒可以感染鸡和豚鼠,但不能在豚鼠群内水平传播,且可能作为H7N9等新型流感病毒内部基因供体,同时表明猪可以感染禽流感病毒(AIV),且可能是AIV获得感染哺乳动物能力的过渡宿主。本研究为H9N2亚型SIV的致病性以及遗传特征的研究提供科学依据。     

Serologic and genetic characterization of North American H3N2 swine influenza A viruses

The H3N2 subtype of influenza A viruses isolated from pigs in the United States and Canada has shown both genetic and antigenic diversity. The objective of this study was to determine the serologic and genetic characteristics of contemporary strains of these viruses. Genetic analysis of 18 reference strains and 8 selected strains demonstrated differences in 1% to 9% of the nucleotides of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA gene revealed 3 genetic clusters, as well as divergence of cluster III viruses from a cluster III prototype virus (A/Swine/Illinois/21587/99). By means of 1-way cross-hemagglutination inhibition with antiserum against 5 field isolates and 3 vaccine viruses, most of 97 isolates tested could be placed in 1 of 3 serogroups. The several isolates that did not react with any antiserum were in genetic cluster III, which suggests that continuous antigenic drift in cluster III may have resulted in virus variants. The efficacy of commercial vaccines against these virus variants should be evaluated with vaccination and challenge studies.     

Efficacy of vaccines in chickens against highly pathogenic Hong Kong H5N1 avian influenza.

In 1997, highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV) caused infections in poultry in Hong Kong and crossed into humans, resulting in a limited number of infections including 18 hospitalized cases and six associated deaths. The unique ability of this, AIV to infect both poultry and people raised a concern for the potential of humans to be biological as well as mechanical vectors of this AIV to poultry. The current study was undertaken to determine if existing vaccines and their technologies could be used during an outbreak to protect poultry. Commercial and experimental inactivated whole H5 AIV and baculovirus-expressed AIV H5 hemagglurinin protein vaccines provided protection from clinical signs and death in chickens after lethal challenge by human-origin HP H5N1 Hong Kong strains 156/97 and 483/97. The commercial and experimental inactivated vaccines had mean protective doses ranging from 0.25 to 0.89, which represents the milligrams of viral protein in the vaccines that provided protection from death in half of the birds. Furthermore, the vaccines reduced the ability of the challenge AIV to replicate in chickens and decreased the recovery of challenge AIV from the enteric and respiratory tracts, but the use of a vaccine will nor totally prevent AI virus replication and shedding. Existing vaccines will protect poultry from mortality and reduce virus replication from the new HP AIV strain that can infect both poultry and humans.     

A recombinant pseudorabies virus encoding the HA gene from H3N2 subtype swine influenza virus protects mice from virulent challenge

The hemagglutinin (HA) gene of A/Swine/Inner Mogolian/547/2001 (H3N2) swine influenza virus (SIV) was recombined into the genome of pseudorabies virus (PRV) Bartha-K61 vaccine strain, generating a recombinant PRV expressing the HA gene, designated as rPRV-HA. One group of 15 mice was inoculated intranasally (i.n.) with 10(5.0) PFU of rPRV-HA, and another two control groups of mice (15 mice per group) were mock-inoculated or inoculated with Bartha-K61. Mice inoculated with rPRV-HA developed hemagglutination inhibition antibodies 3 weeks post-inoculation. Twenty-eight days post-inoculation, all mice were challenged i.n. with 10(5.0) TCID50 of A/Swine/Heilongjiang/74/2000 (H3N2). No challenge virus was isolated from vaccinated mice, and mild pathological lesions were observed only in lungs following challenge. The results demonstrate that the recombinant rPRV-HA expressing the HA gene from H3N2 SIV can protect mice from heterologous virulent challenge, and may represent a candidate vaccine against SIV.     

猪H3N2亚型流感病毒受体亲和性鉴定

利用固相酶联方法对分离自吉林省猪群中的3株H3N2亚型流感病毒进行了受体亲和性鉴定.结果显示,这3株病毒与SAα2,3和SAα2,6受体都能结合,并且偏嗜SAα2,6受体,暗示它们具有感染人的潜能.因此应该加强猪流感的流行病学调查,及时发现那些具有引发人流感流行潜能的病毒,为防控人间流感提前做好准备.     

Evaluation of transmission of swine influenza type A subtype H1N2 virus in seropositive pigs

OBJECTIVE: To examine clinical signs, virus infection and shedding, and transmission of swine influenza virus (SIV) subtype H1N2 among seropositive pigs. ANIMALS: Eighteen 3-week-old pigs with maternal antibodies against SIV subtypes H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2. PROCEDURE: Ten pigs (principal) were inoculated intranasally with subtype H1N2 and 2 groups of contact pigs (n = 4) each were mixed with principal pigs on day 7 (group 1) or 28 (group 2). Two principal pigs each were necropsied on days 4, 14, 21, 28, and 42 days after inoculation. Four pigs in each contact group were necropsied 35 and 14 days after contact. Virus excretion was evaluated after inoculation or contact. Lung lesions and the presence of SIV in various tissues were examined. RESULTS: Mild coughing and increased rectal temperature were observed in principal pigs but not in contact pigs. Nasal virus shedding was detected in all principal pigs from day 2 for 3 to 5 days, in group 1 pigs from day 2 for 4 to 9 days after contact, and in group 2 pigs from day 4 for 2 to 6 days after contact. Trachea, lung, and lymph node specimens from infected pigs contained virus. Antibody titers against all 3 subtypes in all pigs gradually decreased. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Protection from viral infection and shedding was not observed in pigs with maternal antibodies, but clinical disease did not develop. Vaccination programs and good management practices should be considered for control of SIV subtype H1N2 infection on swine farms.