Antigenic variation among equine H 3 N 8 influenza virus hemagglutinins

To provide information on the antigenic variation of the hemagglutinins (HA) among equine H 3 influenza viruses, 26 strains isolated from horses in different areas in the world during the 1963-1996 period were analyzed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies recognizing at least 7 distinct epitopes on the H 3 HA molecule of the prototype strain A/equine/Miami/1/63 (H 3 N 8). The reactivity patterns of the virus strains with the panel indicate that antigenic drift of the HA has occurred with the year of isolation, but less extensively than that of human H 3 N 2 influenza virus isolates, and different antigenic variants co-circulate. To assess immunogenicity of the viruses, antisera from mice vaccinated with each of the 7 representative inactivated viruses were examined by neutralization and hemagglutination-inhibition tests. These results emphasize the importance of monitoring the antigenic drift in equine influenza virus strains and to introduce current isolates into vaccine. On the basis of the present results, equine influenza vaccine strain A/equine/Tokyo/2/71 (H 3 N 8) was replaced with A/equine/La Plata/1/93 (H 3 N 8) in 1996 in Japan. The present results of the antigenic analysis of the 26 strains supported the results of a phylogenetic analysis, that viruses belonging to each of the Eurasian and American equine influenza lineages have independently evolved. However, the current vaccine in Japan consists of two American H 3 N 8 strains; A/equine/Kentucky/1/81 and A/equine/La Plata/1/93. It is also therefore recommended that a representative Eurasian strain should be included as a replacement of A/equine/Kentucky/1/81.     

Characterisation of three equine influenza A H3N8 viruses from Germany (2000 and 2002): evidence for frozen evolution

Reported here are the results of antigenic and genetic characterisation of equine influenza strains causing local outbreaks reported to the Equine Diagnostic Centre in Berlin, Germany. In 2000, equine influenza virus was detected in a nasal swab from a non-vaccinated horse using a rapid diagnostic kit, but was not successfully isolated. Partial direct sequencing of the haemagglutinin (HA1) gene, indicated that the virus was a European lineage H3N8 subtype strain representative of strains isolated in several European countries during 2000. In 2002, two equine influenza viruses were isolated from nasal swabs both taken from unvaccinated horses with acute respiratory symptoms housed at the same stables. Antigenic characterisation using a panel of ferret antisera suggested that these isolates also belonged to the European lineage of H3N8 viruses. Analysis of deduced HA1 amino acid sequences confirmed that the HA1 of both isolates were identical and belonged to the European lineage. However, from phylogenetic analysis, both strains appeared to be more closely related to viruses isolated between 1989 and 1995 than to viruses isolated more recently in Europe. These results suggested that viruses with fewer changes than those on the main evolutionary lineage may continue to circulate. The importance of expanding current equine influenza surveillance efforts is emphasised.     

Phylogenetic analysis of swine influenza viruses isolated in Poland

Swine influenza virus (SIV) of H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes are dominated in European pigs population. "Classical swine" H1N1 subtype was replaced by "avian-like" H1N1 subtype. It co-circulates with H3N2 reassortant possessing "avian" genes. In the present study, 41 SIV strains isolated from pigs with pneumonia, raised in 20 Polish farms, were identified and characterised. Since it was evidenced that isolates from the same geographic district and the same year of isolation are in 100% similar, 15 strains representing different district and different year of isolation were chosen to construct phylogenetic trees. Two genes, conservative matrix 1 (M1) and the most variable, haemagglutynin (HA), were sequenced and subjected into phylogenetic analysis. The results of the analysis confirmed that "avian-like" swine H1N1 strains evolved faster than classical SIV strains. HA gene of these isolates have been derived from contemporary strains of "avian-like" SIV. In contrast, the M1 gene segment may have originated from avian influenza viruses. H3N2 strain is located in swine cluster, in the main prevalent European group of H3N2 isolates called A/Port Chalmers/1/73-like Eurasian swine H3N2 lineage, which has evolved separately from the human H3N2 virus lineage around 1973.     

Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the haemagglutinin genes of H9N2 avian influenza viruses isolated from commercial chickens in Iran

To determine the genetic relationship of Iranian viruses, the haemagglutinin (HA) genes from ten isolates of H9N2 viruses isolated from commercial chickens in Iran during 1998–2002 were amplified and sequenced. Sequence analysis and phylogenetic studies were conducted by comparing each isolate with those of the available H9N2 strains at GenBank. All these ten isolates had the same sequence –R-S-S-R/G-L– of proteolytic cleavage site of the HA. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of HA gene from Iranian isolates showed 95.2–99.1% identity within the group. Five isolates had leucine (L) at position 226 instead of glutamine (Q). Phylogenetic analysis showed that all our isolates belonged to the G1-like sublineage. Also these isolates showed some degree of homology with other H9N2 isolates e.g., 94.3–96.9% with qu/HK/G1/97, 96.1–98.6% with pa/Chiba/1/97, 95.6–98.2% with pa/Narita/92A/98, and 94.0–96.3% with HK/1073/99. On the basis of phylogenetic and molecular characterization evidence, we concluded that the H9N2 subtype influenza viruses circulating in chicken flocks in Iran since 1998–2002 had a common origin. The results of this study indicated that all Iranian viruses have the potential to emerge as highly pathogenic influenza virus, and considering the homology of these isolates with human H9N2 strains, it seems that the potential of these avian influenza isolates to infect human should not be overlooked.     

Genetic and pathobiologic characterization of H3N2 canine influenza viruses isolated in the Jiangsu Province of China in 2009-2010

The newly emerging canine influenza virus (CIV) causes considerable concerns for both veterinary and public health. During 2009-2010, six strains of H3N2 influenza virus were isolated from dogs in Jiangsu Province, China. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of eight gene segments revealed that the six viruses were most similar to a recent canine-derived subtype H3N2 influenza virus isolated in cats from South Korea, which originated from avian strain. By comparing the deduced amino acid sequences of the hemagglutinin 1 (HA1) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the six Jiangsu isolates against the most similar avian strains, we found that all isolates had several common mutations at the receptor-binding sites, potential glycosylation sites and cleavage site in HA1, and antigenic sites in both the HA1 and NA segments. Significantly, a unique two amino acid insertion in the NA stalk was found. Experimental infection of BALB/c mice revealed that viral RNA could be detected in the major rodent organs, such as brain, heart, spleen, kidney, liver and intestine, as well as the lung. All the sampled organs from infected mice showed significant lesions and viral antigen staining. This study highlights the potential of domesticated animals to become a reservoir for influenza virus and the need for surveillance programs to detect cross-species transmission.     

两株H6N2亚型鸡源禽流感病毒的分离鉴定

本研究利用血凝抑制试验(HI)、反转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)、基因测序等方法,对广东省某活禽交易市场进行流行病学调查时获得的两株非H5、H9亚型禽流感病毒65株和C7株进行了亚型鉴定。结果表明这两株病毒均具有血凝活性,且能被抗H6亚型禽流感病毒标准阳性血清特异性抑制。用针对禽流感病毒的M基因、H6亚型禽流感病毒HA基因、N2亚型禽流感病毒NA基因特异性鉴定引物对65株和C7株进行RT-PCR扩增,分别获得特异性目的片段。测序及BLAST分析表明两株分离株与H6N2亚型禽流感广东分离株的HA基因和NA基因核苷酸序列相似性均高达95%以上。将该两分离株鉴定为H6N2亚型禽流感病毒,并命名为A/Chicken/Guangdong/65/2009、A/Chicken/Guangdong/C7/2009。     

Genomic characterization of H1N2 swine influenza viruses in Italy

Three subtypes (H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2) are currently diffused worldwide in pigs. The H1N2 subtype was detected for the first time in Italian pigs in 1998. To investigate the genetic characteristics and the molecular evolution of this subtype in Italy, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences of 26 strains isolated from 1998 to 2010. Phylogenetic analysis of HA and NA genes showed differences between the older (1998-2003) and the more recent strains (2003-2010). The older isolates were closely related to the established European H1N2 lineage, whereas the more recent isolates possessed a different NA deriving from recent human H3N2 viruses. Two other reassortant H1N2 strains have been detected: A/sw/It/22530/02 has the HA gene that is closely related to H1N1 viruses; A/sw/It/58769/10 is an uncommon strain with an HA that is closely related to H1N1 and an NA similar to H3N2 SIVs. Amino acid analysis revealed interesting features: a deletion of two amino acids (146-147) in the HA gene of the recent isolates and two strains isolated in 1998; the presence of the uncommon aa change (N66S), in the PB1-F2 protein in strains isolated from 2009 to 2010, which is said to have contributed to the increased virulence. These results demonstrate the importance of pigs as mixing vessels for animal and human influenza and show the presence and establishment of reassortant strains involving human viruses in pigs in Italy. These findings also highlighted different genomic characteristics of the NA gene the recent Italian strains compared to circulating European viruses.     

中国流行的2009甲型H1N1猪源流感病毒HA和NA基因的分子和遗传特征

目前流行的甲型H1N1流感病毒是一个复杂的基因重配病毒。对病毒的分子生物学研究,尤其是病毒囊膜蛋白血凝素（haemagglutini,HA）基因和神经氨酸酶（neuraminidase,NA）基因的研究,为控制和预防H1N1流感病毒具有重要的意义。本研究对中国流行的2009甲型H1N1猪源流感病毒的HA和NA基因与疫苗株A/California/07/2009（H1N1）,以及不同国家和地区的病毒株进行核苷酸和氨基酸序列分析。从NCBI的GenBank数据库下载所需要毒株的序列,采用Lasergene 6.0软件包中的EditSeq和MegAlign进行序列分析,进化树分析采用MEGA4.1软件。进化分析表明,中国流行的2009 H1N1流感病毒与疫苗株的核苷酸同源率分别在98.8%~99.7%和98.6%~99.6%之间;裂解位点处为I/VPSIQSR↓G,不具备高致病性流感病毒的特征;有1株NA抗性病毒。尽管与疫苗株相比,中国流行株2009甲型H1N1猪源流感病毒的HA和NA基因有部分突变,但这些突变并不是重要的。本研究首次详细分析了中国流行的2009甲型H1N1猪源流感病毒株与疫苗株的HA和NA基因的分子特征,对实时监测流感病毒HA和NA基因的变化具有重要意义。     

我国H9N2亚型禽流感病毒血凝素蛋白145和153位抗原位点变异分析

H9N2亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)血凝素蛋白(HA)易发生抗原漂移,但识别我国H9N2亚型AIV流行株抗原差异性的关键抗原位点还不清楚.选取两株血凝抑制(HI)效价高的H9N2亚型AIV单克隆抗体2E4与2D6对A/Chicken/Shanghai/F/1998(H9N2)毒株施加抗体压力制备单抗逃逸突变株,鉴定抗原位点...     

上海市三株H9N2鸭禽流感病毒全基因遗传进化分析

为了解上海市鸭群中H9N2亚型禽流感病毒（Avian influenza virus,AIV）的遗传变异特征,以及与疫苗株A/Chicken/Shan dong/6/1996和A/Chicken/Shanghai/F/1998之间的遗传距离,对2007年和2009年分离自上海市鸭气管和泄殖腔样品采用荧光RT-PCR检测,将H9亚型禽流感病毒核酸阳性样品处理后,经鸡胚尿囊腔接种分离病毒,HI进一步确定血凝素（haemagglutin,HA）亚型,随后进行了全基因测序,并结合GenBank中的相关序列进行遗传进化分析。结果表明：3株分离毒株为H9N2亚型鸭禽流感病毒,HA蛋白裂解位点的氨基酸组成为PARSSRGLF,符合低致病性禽流感病毒特征,均属于经典的H9N2 Ck/Bei群系;NA基因均属于Y280系;NP、PA基因和A/Goose/Guangdong/1/1996（H5亚型）归为一群;PB2和M基因属于Qa/HK/G1/97系;NS基因仍为Ck/Bei系;2007年的分离株和2009年的分离株在PB1基因上分属不同亚群。3株病毒的HA1基因与疫苗株A/Chicken/Shandong/6/1996和A/Chicken/Shanghai/F/1998之间的遗传距离均大于7%。由此可见,3株鸭H9N2亚型毒株可能是由不同禽流感病毒基因亚群间发生自然重排的产物,现有疫苗对分离株的保护性需要进一步评估。     

H9N2禽流感病毒中国分离株血凝素基因序列的初步分析

10株中国H9N2禽流感病毒分离株的血凝素基因分析表明，这些分离株间的亲缘关系较近，推测它们可能来源于同一种系，H9亚型分离株的HA1亚单位系统发育分析表明中国AIV分离株与97香港禽类市场上分离到的毒株不同，中国分离株中在HA切割位点上均未见到典型的高致病力毒株H5、H7所具有的一系列碱性氨基酸，其排列均为－PARSSGLF－，系统发育分析表明该10株属欧亚种系。     

Influenza surveillance in birds in Italian wetlands (1992-1998): is there a host restricted circulation of influenza viruses in sympatric ducks and coots?

We report the results of a 6-year serological and virological monitoring performed in ducks and coots in Italy, in order to assess the degree of influenza A virus circulation in these birds during wintering. A total of 1039 sera collected from 1992 to 1998 was screened by a double antibody sandwich blocking ELISA (NP-ELISA): seroprevalence of antibodies to influenza A viruses was significantly higher in ducks compared to coots (52.2% vs. 7.1%, respectively). The hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assay, performed on NP-ELISA positive sera, showed that 16.9% of these duck sera and 33.3% of these coot sera had antibodies to at least one influenza virus HA subtype: ducks showed HI antibodies against most of the HA subtypes, except for the H3, H4, H7, and H12; coots were seropositive to the H3 and H10 subtypes, only. From 1993 to 1998, 22 virus strains were obtained from 802 cloacal swabs, with an overall virus isolation frequency of 2.7%. Viruses belonging to the H1N1 subtype were by far the most commonly circulating strains (18/22) and were isolated mainly from ducks (17/18). The remaining viruses were representative of the H10N8, H5N2 and H3N8 subtypes. Our data indicate some differences between influenza A virus circulation in sympatric ducks and coots and a significant antigenic diversity between some reference strains and viruses recently isolated in Italy.     

鸽新城疫野毒株的分离及生物学特性研究

对分离的Ｇ１、Ｇ２、Ｇ３３株鸽新城疫病毒进行了电镜检查、致病性指数测定、血凝试验（ＨＡ）,与鸡新城疫Ｌａｓｏｔａ毒株的交叉血凝抑制试验（ＨＩ）、致病性试验。测得鸡胚半数感染量（ＥＩＤ５０）分别为１０－８．４１,１０－７．５３,１０－７．８３;鸡胚最小致死量（ＬＤ）均为１０－４;鸡胚平均致死时间（ＭＤＴ）分别为８０ｈ,９０ｈ,９６ｈ;１日龄雏鸡脑内致病指数（ＩＣＰＩ）分别为１．６０,１．５０,１．５５;分离毒株与Ｌａｓｏｔａ毒株和其相应血清的交叉凝集抑制试验有明显差异。将分离毒株分别接种１月龄鸽各３只,４～１０ｄ全部出现典型神经症状,１５ｄ内死亡。结果表明所分离的３株病毒为鸽新城疫病毒,在抗原性上与鸡新城疫病毒存在一定差异,对鸡也有一定致病力。为制定防制措施,研制鸽新城疫疫苗,控制新城疫流行提供了科学依据。     

Molecular characterization of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses, isolated from food products imported into Singapore

We have completed the genetic characterization of all eight gene segments for four low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses. The objective of this study was to detect the presence of novel signatures that may serve as early warning indicators of the conversion of LPAI viruses to high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. This study included three H5N2 and one H5N3 viruses that were isolated from live poultry imported into Singapore as part of the national avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance program. Based on the molecular criterion of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), sequence analysis with the translated amino acid (aa) sequence of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene revealed the absence of multibasic aa at the HA cleavage site, identifying all four virus isolates as LPAI. Detailed phylogenetic tree analyses using the HA and neuraminidase (NA) genes clustered these isolates in the Eurasian H5 lineage, but away from the HPAI H5 subtypes. This analysis further revealed that the internal genes clustered to different avian and swine subtypes, suggesting that the four isolates may possibly share their ancestry with these different influenza subtypes. Our results suggest that the four LPAI isolates in this study contained mainly avian signatures, and the phylogenetic tree for the internal genes further suggests the potential for reassortment with other different circulating avian subtypes. This is the first comprehensive report on the genetic characterization of LPAI H5N2/3 viruses isolated in South-East Asia.     

Emergence of highly virulent pseudorabies virus in southern China

Pseudorabies has been controlled efficiently in China for many years by vaccination. However, it suddenly broke out in many pig farms in 2012–2013 in southern China. In this study, a systematic investigation that included virus isolation, genetic and pathological studies, and immunogenicity analysis was carried out with the aim of understanding the pathogenetic and antigenic features of novel isolates of pseudorabies virus (PRV). Of 38 tissue samples collected from pigs with clinical signs of pseudorabies on 13 farms in 4 provinces in southern China in 2012–2013, 29 showed wild-type PRV infection by polymerase chain reaction. Sequence analysis of 5 isolates from the 4 provinces showed that they belonged to a relatively independent cluster that shared 2 insertions of a single amino acid in the gE gene and 1 insertion of 7 amino acids in the gC gene. In experiments, isolate ZJ01 caused death in 100% of pigs that were either 14 or 80 days old. The serum antibodies to the commercial PRV vaccines had significantly lower neutralizing activity against the ZJ01 isolate than against the vaccine strains. The antigenic relatedness between ZJ01 and the vaccine strains was 0.378 to 0.455. These findings indicated that a novel, highly virulent PRV strain with antigenic variance had spread widely in southern China.     

Specific antibody responses and generation of antigenic variants in chickens immunized against a virulent avian influenza virus.

To examine the specificity of the antibody response to the influenza hemagglutinin and the generation of antigenic variants, chickens were immunized against the highly virulent H5 virus A/Ty/Ont/7732/66 (H5N9) and then challenged with a lethal dose of the virus. The antibody responses of these chickens to the hemagglutinin (HA) were examined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in which their sera were titrated for the ability to block the binding of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to five distinct neutralizing epitopes on the viral HA. Based on the ELISA results, a majority (5/6) of the chickens produced antibodies to three of the five neutralizing epitopes on the viral HA. After challenge, two of six immunized chickens shed virus and died; antigenic comparisons of isolates from these two chickens indicated the presence of an antigenic variant; i.e., there was a change in one neutralizing epitope on the HA of virus shed by one chicken. None of the chickens had produced antibodies to this particular epitope on the viral HA. Inoculation of chickens with this variant resulted in 100% mortality, demonstrating that a change in this particular epitope did not alter the virulence of the virus. These studies indicate that chickens immunized against highly virulent influenza viruses may excrete virulent variants following challenge with live virus.     

Identification of a variable epitope on the Newcastle disease virus hemagglutinin–neuraminidase protein

Fifteen virulent Newcastle disease viruses (NDVs) were isolated from diseased birds in Eastern China in 2005. To investigate the antigenic variation in the epitopes on NDV hemagglutinin–neuraminidase (HN) protein, these isolates, together with six reference strains, were subjected to the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests using five HI-positive monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against velogenic NDV strain ZJ1. The MAbs 2G5, 3A4, 3B5 and 6B1 recognized 12 of the 15 NDV isolates, and exhibited HI activity towards the six reference strains. However, these MAbs did not react with three local isolates, JS-02/05, JS-06/05 and JS-10/05. HN gene sequence analysis of all NDV strains revealed that these MAb-resistant NDV isolates possessed residue K at position 347 of the HN protein, whereas all remaining strains possessed E or G at the same site. To determine the contribution of the residue at position 347 to antigenic epitope formation, we generated by reverse genetics two recombinant viruses, ZJ1HNK with an E347K mutation on ZJ1 HN, and JSHNE with a K347E mutation on JS-06/05 HN. The HI test demonstrated that ZJ1HNK lost reactivity with MAbs 2G5, 3A4, 3B5 and 6B1, whereas JSHNE did react with these MAbs. Further verification by immunofluorescent assay demonstrated that residue 347 was a critical determinant for formation of the antigenic epitope (residues 345–353) on the HN protein.     

Pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in Chilean commercial turkeys with genetic and serologic comparisons to U.S. H1N1 avian influenza vaccine isolates

Beginning in April 2009, a novel H1N1 influenza virus caused acute respiratory disease in humans, first in Mexico and then around the world. The resulting pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 (pH1N1) virus was isolated in swine in Canada in June 2009 and later in breeder turkeys in Chile, Canada, and the United States. The pH1N1 virus consists of gene segments of avian, human, and swine influenza origin and has the potential for infection in poultry following exposure to infected humans or swine. We examined the clinical events following the initial outbreak of pH1N1 in turkeys and determined the relatedness of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene segments from the pH1N1 to two H1N1 avian influenza (AI) isolates used in commercial turkey inactivated vaccines. Overall, infection of turkey breeder hens with pH1N1 resulted in -50% reduction of egg production over 3-4 weeks. Genetic analysis indicated one H1N1 AI vaccine isolate (Alturkey/North Carolina/17026/1988) contained approximately 92% nucleotide sequence similarity to the pH1N1 virus (A/Mexico/4109/2009); whereas, a more recent AI vaccine isolate (A/ swine/North Carolina/00573/2005) contained 75.9% similarity. Comparison of amino acids found at antigenic sites of the HA protein indicated conserved epitopes at the Sa site; however, major differences were found at the Ca2 site between pH1N1 and A/ turkey/North Carolina/127026/1988. Hemagglutinin-inhibition (HI) tests were conducted with sera produced in vaccinated turkeys in North Carolina to determine if protection would be conferred using U.S. AI vaccine isolates. HI results indicate positive reactivity (HI titer > or = 5 log2) against the vaccine viruses over the course of study. However, limited cross-reactivity to the 2009 pH1N1 virus was observed, with positive titers in a limited number of birds (6 out of 20) beginning only after a third vaccination. Taken together, these results demonstrate that turkeys treated with these vaccines would likely not be protected against pH1N1 and current vaccines used in breeder turkeys in the United States against circulating H1N1 viruses should be updated to ensure adequate protection against field exposure.     

Reactivity and prevalence of neutralizing antibodies against Japanese strains of bovine viral diarrhea virus subgenotypes

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) field isolates show genetic and antigenic diversity. At least 14 subgenotypes of BVDV-1 and 4 of BVDV-2 have been identified in Artiodactyla worldwide. Of these, 6 subgenotypes of BVDV-1 and 1 of BVDV-2 have been isolated in Japan. Previously, we reported that each subgenotype virus expresses different antigenic characteristics. Here we investigated the reactivity of neutralizing antibodies against representative strains of Japanese BVDV subgenotypes using sera from 266 beef cattle to estimate the prevalence of this epidemic virus among cattle in Japan. Antibody titers at concentrations at least 4-fold higher than antibodies against other subgenotype viruses were considered subgenotype specific. Subgenotype-specific antibodies were detected from 117 (80.7%) of 145 sera samples (69.7% against BVDV-1a, 1.4% against BVDV-1b, 8.3% against BVDV-1c, and 1.4% against BVDV-2a). The results suggest that neutralization tests are useful in estimating currently epidemic subgenotypes of BVDV in the field.