Emerging oseltamivir resistance in seasonal and pandemic influenza A/H1N1

Inhibition of RAN attenuates influenza a virus replication and nucleoprotein nuclear export

Nuclear export of the viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) is a critical step in the influenza A virus (IAV) life cycle and may be an effective target for the development of anti-IAV drugs. The host factor ras-related nuclear protein (RAN) is known to participate in the life cycle of several viruses, but its role in influenza virus replication remains unknown. In the present study, we aimed to determine the function of RAN in influenza virus replication using different cell lines and subtype strains. We found that RAN is essential for the nuclear export of vRNP, as it enhances the binding affinity of XPO1 toward the viral nuclear export protein NS2. Depletion of RAN constrained the vRNP complex in the nucleus and attenuated the replication of various subtypes of influenza virus. Using in silico compound screening, we identified that bepotastine could dissociate the RAN-XPO1-vRNP trimeric complex and exhibit potent antiviral activity against influenza virus both in vitro and in vivo. This study demonstrates the important role of RAN in IAV replication and suggests its potential use as an antiviral target.

A small molecule compound targeting hemagglutinin inhibits influenza A virus and exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral activity

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a widespread pathogen that poses a significant threat to human health, causing pandemics with high mortality and pathogenicity. Given the emergence of increasingly drug-resistant strains of IAV, currently available antiviral drugs have been reported to be inadequate to meet clinical demands. Therefore, continuous exploration of safe, effective and broad-spectrum antiviral medications is urgently required. Here, we found that the small molecule compound J1 exhibited low toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, J1 exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral activity against enveloped viruses, including IAV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2. In this study, we explored the inhibitory effects and mechanism of action of J1 on IAV in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that J1 inhibited infection by IAV strains, including H1N1, H7N9, H5N1 and H3N2, as well as by oseltamivir-resistant strains. Mechanistic studies have shown that J1 blocks IAV infection mainly through specific interactions with the influenza virus hemagglutinin HA2 subunit, thereby blocking membrane fusion. BALB/c mice were used to establish a model of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by IAV. Treatment with J1 increased survival rates and reduced viral titers, lung index and lung inflammatory damage in virus-infected mice. In conclusion, J1 possesses significant anti-IAV effects in vitro and in vivo, providing insights into the development of broad-spectrum antivirals against future pandemics.

Analysis of the epidemiological situation of influenza in Guangzhou under the prevention and control of COVID-19 in June 2022

OBJECTIVE

Under the prevention and control measures of COVID-19, the epidemiological situation of respiratory pathogens is not well known. Understanding the patterns of respiratory pathogens epidemiology under the prevention and control measures of COVID-19 is important to guide resource allocation for existing and future treatment and prevention strategies.

METHODS

In total, 659 fever outpatients nasopharyngeal swabs were collected at fever illness onset during June in 2022 at the First Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. Swabs were tested by real-time fluorescent single-tube multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 12 respiratory pathogens. Moreover, 108 of the 659 swabs were tested for influenza virus antigen.

RESULTS

At least one pathogen was detected in 477 (72.38%) of 659 fever outpatients with multiple pathogens identified in 25 (3.79%). The highest multiple infectious pattern is parainfluenza virus in combination with influenza (five cases). Influenza A virus (IFA), human rhinovirus (HRV), and parainfluenza virus are the three leading virus pathogens with proportions of 64.64%, 5.01%, and 2.88%. School-age children and adult groups have the highest pathogens positivity rate of 81.28% and 83.87%.

CONCLUSION

A high proportion of adolescents and adults has respiratory pathogens detected during fever illnesses during June in 2022 under the prevention and control of COVID-19. These data indicate that diagnosis, prevention, and control of respiratory tract infection should be paid attention under the prevention and control of COVID-19.

Clinical outcomes of baloxavir versus oseltamivir in immunocompromised patients

BACKGROUND

Neuraminidase inhibitors, including oseltamivir, are the treatment standard for influenza. Baloxavir, a novel antiviral, demonstrated comparable outcomes to oseltamivir in outpatients with influenza. Baloxavir was equally effective as oseltamivir in a retrospective study of hospitalized patients with influenza at our institution. However, the efficacy of baloxavir in immunocompromised patients is unclear.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of immunocompromised adult patients hospitalized with influenza A who received baloxavir from January 2019 to April 2019 or oseltamivir from January 2018 to April 2018. Demographic and clinical outcomes were assessed. Primary outcomes were time from antiviral initiation to resolution of hypoxia and fever. Secondary outcomes were length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) care, ICU LOS, and 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Of 95 total patients, 52 received baloxavir and 43 received oseltamivir. Other than younger age (57.5 vs. 65; p = .035) and longer duration between vaccination and symptom onset (114 vs. 86 days; p = .001) in the baloxavir group, baseline characteristics did not differ. H1 was the predominant subtype in the baloxavir group (65.3%) versus H3 in the oseltamivir group (85.7%). When comparing baloxavir to oseltamivir, there was no significant difference in median time from antiviral initiation to resolution of hypoxia (59.9 vs. 42.5 h) and to resolution of fever (21.6 vs. 26.6 h). There were no differences in secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Baloxavir was not associated with longer time to resolution of hypoxia or fever in comparison to oseltamivir. Results must be taken in context of variations in seasonal influenza subtype and resistance rates.

Anti-influenza virus activities and mechanism of antrafenine analogs

Antrafenine is a drug initially designed for anti-inflammation uses. In this work we have synthesized a library of its structural analogs and tested the anti-influenza activities. These analogs belong to a group of 2-(quinolin-4-yl)amino benzamides or 2-(quinolin-4-yl)amino benzoate derivatives. Best performers were identified, namely 12, 34, 41, with IC50 against A/WSN/33 (H1N1) of 5.53, 3.21 and 6.73 μM respectively. These chemicals were also effective against A/PR/8/34 (H1N1), A/HK/1/68 (H3N2) and B/Florida/04/2006 viruses. Time-of-addition study and minigenome luciferase reporter assay both supported that the compounds act on the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) components. Using 34 and 41 as representative compounds, we determined by microscale thermophoresis that this group of compounds bind to both PA C-terminal domain and the nucleoprotein (NP) which is the most abundant subunit of the RNP. Taken together, we have identified a new class of anti-influenza compounds with dual molecular targets and good potential to be further developed. IMPORTANCE: The influenza viruses, especially influenza A and B subtypes, cause many deaths each year. The high mutation rate of the virus renders available therapeutics less effective with time. In this work we identify a new class of compounds, structurally similar to the anti-inflammation drug antrafenine, with good potency against influenza A strains. The IC50 of the best performers are within low micromolar range and thus have good potential for further development.

Hylin-a1: A Pan-Inhibitor against Emerging and Re-Emerging Respiratory Viruses

Pandemic and epidemic outbreaks of respiratory viruses are a challenge for public health and social care system worldwide, leading to high mortality and morbidity among the human populations. In light of the limited efficacy of current vaccines and antiviral drugs against respiratory viral infections and the emergence and re-emergence of new viruses, novel broad-spectrum antiviral drugs are needed for the prevention and treatment of these infections. Antimicrobial peptides with an antiviral effect, also known as AVPs, have already been reported as potent inhibitors of viral infections by affecting different stages of the virus lifecycle. In the present study, we analyzed the activity of the AVP Hylin-a1, secreted by the frog Hypsiboas albopunctatus, against a wide range of respiratory viruses, including the coronaviruses HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2, measles virus, human parainfluenza virus type 3, and influenza virus H1N1. We report a significant inhibitory effect on infectivity in all the enveloped viruses, whereas there was a lack of activity against the naked coxsackievirus B3. Considering the enormous therapeutic potential of Hylin-a1, further experiments are required to elucidate its mechanism of action and to increase its stability by modifying the native sequence.

Efficacy of oseltamivir treatment in influenza virus-infected obese mice

Obesity has been epidemiologically and empirically linked with more severe diseases upon influenza infection. To ameliorate severe disease, treatment with antivirals, such as the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir, is suggested to begin within days of infection especially in high-risk hosts. However, this treatment can be poorly effective and may generate resistance variants within the treated host. Here, we hypothesized that obesity would reduce oseltamivir treatment effectiveness in the genetically obese mouse model. We demonstrated that oseltamivir treatment does not improve viral clearance in obese mice. While no traditional variants associated with oseltamivir resistance emerged, we did note that drug treatment failed to quench the viral population and did lead to phenotypic drug resistance in vitro. Together, these studies suggest that the unique pathogenesis and immune responses in obese mice could have implications for pharmaceutical interventions and the within-host dynamics of the influenza virus population. IMPORTANCE Influenza virus infections, while typically resolving within days to weeks, can turn critical, especially in high-risk populations. Prompt antiviral administration is crucial to mitigating these severe sequalae, yet concerns remain if antiviral treatment is effective in hosts with obesity. Here, we show that oseltamivir does not improve viral clearance in genetically obese or type I interferon receptor-deficient mice. This suggests a blunted immune response may impair oseltamivir efficacy and render a host more susceptible to severe disease. This study furthers our understanding of oseltamivir treatment dynamics both systemically and in the lungs of obese mice, as well as the consequences of oseltamivir treatment for the within-host emergence of drug-resistant variants.

Antisense oligonucleotides: a promising therapeutic option against infectious diseases

Infectious diseases have been one of the biggest health problems of humanity for centuries. Nucleic acid-based therapeutics have received attention in recent years with their effectiveness in the treatment of various infectious diseases and vaccine development studies. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the basic properties underlying the mechanism of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), their applications, and their challenges. The efficient delivery of ASOs is the greatest challenge for their therapeutic success, but this problem is overcome with new-generation antisense molecules developed with chemical modifications. The types, carrier molecules, and gene regions targeted by sequences have been summarized in detail. Research and development of antisense therapy is still in its infancy; however, gene silencing therapies appear to have the potential for faster and longer-lasting activity than conventional treatment strategies. On the other hand, realizing the potential of antisense therapy will require a large initial economic investment to ascertain the pharmacological properties and learn how to optimize them. The ability of ASOs to be rapidly designed and synthesized to target different microbes can reduce drug discovery time from 6 years to 1 year. Since ASOs are not particularly affected by resistance mechanisms, they come to the fore in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. The design-based flexibility of ASOs has enabled it to be used for different types of microorganisms/genes and successful in vitro and in vivo results have been revealed. The current review summarized a comprehensive understanding of ASO therapy in combating bacterial and viral infections.

In Silico Design of an Oseltamivir Derivative with Increased Affinity against Wild-Type and Mutant Variants of Neuraminidase and Hemagglutinin of Influenza A H1N1 Virus

Antiviral resistance has turned into a world concern nowadays. Influenza A H1N1 emerged as a problem at the world level due to the neuraminidase (NA) mutations. The NA mutants conferred resistance to oseltamivir and zanamivir. Several efforts were conducted to develop better anti-influenza A H1N1 drugs. Our research group combined in silico methods to create a compound derived from oseltamivir to be tested in vitro against influenza A H1N1. Here we show the results of a new compound derived from oseltamivir but with specific chemical modifications, with significant affinity either on NA (in silico and in vitro assays) or HA (in silico) from influenza A H1N1 strain. We include docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the oseltamivir derivative at the binding site onto NA and HA of influenza A H1N1. Additionally, the biological experimental results show that oseltamivir derivative decreases the lytic-plaque formation on viral susceptibility assays, and it does not show cytotoxicity. Finally, oseltamivir derivative assayed on viral NA showed a concentration-dependent inhibition behavior at nM, depicting a high affinity of the compound for the enzyme, corroborated with the MD simulations results, placing our designed oseltamivir derivative as a potential antiviral against influenza A H1N1.

Detection of H275Y oseltamivir resistance gene mutation among Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 patients by allelic discrimination real-time RT-PCR

Influenza viruses can mutate genetically and cause a range of respiratory ailments. The H275Y mutation in the neuraminidase (NA) gene reduces the effectiveness of oseltamivir, a widely used drug for the treatment of Influenza A and B virus infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends single-nucleotide polymorphism assays to detect this mutation. The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of H275Y mutation conferring oseltamivir resistance in Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus among hospitalized patients from June 2014 to December 2021. Following the WHO protocol, allelic discrimination real-time RT-PCR was performed for 752 samples. Out of the 752 samples, 1 tested positive for Y275 gene mutation by allelic discrimination real-time RT-PCR. In samples of years 2020 and 2021, neither the H275 nor Y275 genotype was detected. Sequencing of the NA gene of all negative samples showed a mismatch between the NA sequence and the probes used in the allelic discrimination assay. Also, Y275 mutation was detected in only 1 sample from 2020. The prevalence of oseltamivir resistance was estimated as 0.27% among the Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 patients during 2014-2021. The study highlights that the WHO-recommended probes for detecting H275Y mutation may not be useful to detect 2020 and 2021 circulating strains of Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring of mutations in the influenza virus.

Screening and identification of 3-aryl-quinolin-2-one derivatives as antiviral agents against influenza A

Quinolin-2-one represents an important and valuable chemical motif that possesses a wide variety of biological activities; however, the anti-influenza activities of quinolin-2-one-containing compounds were rarely reported. Herein, we describe the screening and identification of 3-aryl-quinolin-2-one derivatives as a novel class of antiviral agents. The 3-aryl-quinolinone derivatives were synthesized via an efficient copper-catalyzed reaction cascade that we previously developed. Using this synthetic method, preliminary structure-activity relationships of this scaffold against the influenza A virus infection were systematically explored. The most potent compound 34 displayed IC₅₀ values of 2.14 and 4.88 μM against the replication of H3N2 (A/HK/8/68) and H1N1 (A/WSN/33) strains, respectively, without apparent cytotoxicity on MDCK cells. We further demonstrated that 27 and 34 potently inhibited the plaque formation of the IAV, rendering this scaffold attractive for pursuing novel anti-influenza agents.

Variant influenza: connecting the missing dots

BACKGROUND

In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared a new pandemic, the 2009 swine influenza pandemic (swine flu). The symptoms of the swine flu pandemic causing strain were comparable to most of the symptoms noted by seasonal influenza.

AREA COVERED

Zoonotic viruses that caused the swine flu pandemic and its preventive measures.

EXPERT OPINION

As per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the clinical manifestations in humans produced by the 2009 H1N1 'swine flu' virus were equivalent to the manifestations caused by related flu strains. The H1N1 vaccination was the most successful prophylactic measure since it prevented the virus from spreading and reduced the intensity and consequences of the pandemic. Despite the availability of therapeutics, the ongoing evolution and appearance of new strains have made it difficult to develop effective vaccines and therapies. Currently, the CDC recommends yearly flu immunization for those aged 6 months and above. The lessons learned from the A/2009/H1N1 pandemic in 2009 indicated that readiness of mankind toward new illnesses caused by mutant viral subtypes that leap from animals to people must be maintained.

Is it possible to hospitalize patients in multiple-bed room without increasing the risk of hospital-acquired influenza? Description of a pragmatic preventive strategy in a French university hospital

BACKGROUND

Large inrush of patients through Emergency Department during influenza season can be dramatic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an emergency preventive strategy, namely admission of patients with influenza in multiple-bed room with patients free from influenza, on the occurrence of hospital-acquired influenza (HAI).

METHODS

When a patient with an influenza RT-PCR diagnosis was hospitalized in a multiple-bed room, the emergency preventive strategy was applied: selection of non-immunocompromised neighbor, implementation of physical barriers (rigid screen pulled between beds, surgical mask for healthcare workers and visitors), preemptive Oseltamivir therapy for the neighbor.

RESULTS

From 29/11/2017 to 10/05/2018 a total of 464 hospitalized influenza patients were included; 318 were placed in multiple-bed room and 141 in single room. Emergency preventive strategy was correctly applied for 75.1% of patients in multiple-bed room. A total of 8 exposed neighbors matched HAI definition despite strategy. 7 were already exposed to the case before the set-up of the strategy. Only one case of documented transmission of influenza occurred after application of an incorrect emergency preventive strategy: preventive posology of Oseltamivir was not correct.

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary results suggest that the occurrence of HAI in multiple-bed rooms can be limited by the implementation of maximum precautions and urge us to promote further evaluation of the strategy. A detection bias should be considered without a systematic neighbors monitoring.

Intravenous Zanamivir: A Viable Option for Critically Ill Patients With Influenza

Objective:

To review the pharmacology, clinical trial data, and clinical implications for the intravenous formulation of zanamivir.

Data Sources:

MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched during November 2019 to July 2020. Search terms zanamivir and neuraminidase inhibitor were used.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

All human trials and major reports from compassionate use programs with the intravenous zanamivir (IVZ) formulation were assessed and reviewed here.

Data Synthesis:

IVZ was found to be similar but not superior to oral oseltamivir in hospitalized patients when studied in populations with very low baseline oseltamivir resistance. IVZ provides an effective alternative for critically ill patients when oral antiviral therapy is not preferred or when oseltamivir resistance is increased.

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice:

IVZ was recently authorized for use by the European Medicines Agency, and it is eligible for consideration in emergency use protocols and US stockpile inclusion. It will be of particular interest in critically ill patients especially during influenza seasons with appreciable oseltamivir and peramivir resistance.

Conclusions:

The available information suggests that the intravenous formulation of zanamivir offers a viable alternative treatment for critically ill patients with influenza, especially when resistance to other agents is present.

Put a cork in it: Plugging the M2 viral ion channel to sink influenza

The ongoing threat of seasonal and pandemic influenza to human health requires antivirals that can effectively supplement existing vaccination strategies. The M2 protein of influenza A virus (IAV) is a proton-gated, proton-selective ion channel that is required for virus replication and is an established antiviral target. While licensed adamantane-based M2 antivirals have been historically used, M2 mutations that confer major adamantane resistance are now so prevalent in circulating virus strains that these drugs are no longer recommended. Here we review the current understanding of IAV M2 structure and function, mechanisms of inhibition, the rise of drug resistance mutations, and ongoing efforts to develop new antivirals that target resistant forms of M2.

Anthralin Suppresses the Proliferation of Influenza Virus by Inhibiting the Cap-Binding and Endonuclease Activity of Viral RNA Polymerase

Influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (vRdRp) does not have capping activity and relies on the capped RNAs produced by the host RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). The viral polymerases process the capped RNAs to produce short capped RNA fragments that are used as primers to initiate the transcription of viral mRNAs. This process, known as cap-snatching, can be targeted by antiviral therapeutics. Here, anthralin was identified as an inhibitor against influenza a virus (IAV) infection by targeting the cap-snatching activity of the viral polymerase. Anthralin, an FDA-approved drug used in the treatment of psoriasis, shows antiviral activity against IAV infection in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, anthralin significantly reduces weight loss, lung injury, and mortality caused by IAV infection in mice. The mechanism of action study revealed that anthralin inhibits the cap-binding function of PB2 subunit and endonuclease activity of PA. As a result, viral mRNA transcription is blocked, leading to the decreases in viral RNA replication and viral protein expression. In conclusion, anthralin has been demonstrated to have the potential of an alternative antiviral against influenza virus infection. Also, targeting the captive pocket structure that includes the N-terminus of PA endonuclease domain and the C-terminal of PB2 cap-binding domain of IAV RdRp may be an excellent strategy for developing anti-influenza drugs.

Inter- Versus Intra-Host Sequence Diversity of pH1N1 and Associated Clinical Outcomes

The diversity of RNA viruses dictates their evolution in a particular host, community or environment. Here, we reported within- and between-host pH1N1virus diversity at consensus and sub-consensus levels over a three-year period (2015-2017) and its implications on disease severity. A total of 90 nasal samples positive for the pH1N1 virus were deep-sequenced and analyzed to detect low-frequency variants (LFVs) and haplotypes. Parallel evolution of LFVs was seen in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene across three scales: among patients (33%), across years (22%), and at global scale. Remarkably, investigating the emergence of LFVs at the consensus level demonstrated that within-host virus evolution recapitulates evolutionary dynamics seen at the global scale. Analysis of virus diversity at the HA haplotype level revealed the clustering of low-frequency haplotypes from early 2015 with dominant strains of 2016, indicating rapid haplotype evolution. Haplotype sharing was also noticed in all years, strongly suggesting haplotype transmission among patients infected during a specific influenza season. Finally, more than half of patients with severe symptoms harbored a larger number of haplotypes, mostly in patients under the age of five. Therefore, patient age, haplotype diversity, and the presence of certain LFVs should be considered when interpreting illness severity. In addition to its importance in understanding virus evolution, sub-consensus virus diversity together with whole genome sequencing is essential to explain variabilities in clinical outcomes that cannot be explained by either analysis alone.

Focusing on the Influenza Virus Polymerase Complex: Recent Progress in Drug Discovery and Assay Development

Influenza viruses are severe human pathogens that pose persistent threat to public health. Each year more people die of influenza virus infection than that of breast cancer. Due to the limited efficacy associated with current influenza vaccines, as well as emerging drug resistance from small molecule antiviral drugs, there is a clear need to develop new antivirals with novel mechanisms of action. The influenza virus polymerase complex has become a promising target for the development of the next-generation of antivirals for several reasons. Firstly, the influenza virus polymerase, which forms a heterotrimeric complex that consists of PA, PB1, and PB2 subunits, is highly conserved. Secondly, both individual polymerase subunit (PA, PB1, and PB2) and inter-subunit interactions (PA-PB1, PB1- PB2) represent promising drug targets. Lastly, growing insight into the structure and function of the polymerase complex has spearheaded the structure-guided design of new polymerase inhibitors. In this review, we highlight recent progress in drug discovery and assay development targeting the influenza virus polymerase complex and discuss their therapeutic potentials.

Respiratory Viral Infections in Patients With Cancer or Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplant

Survival rates for pediatric cancer have steadily improved over time but it remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among children. Infections are a major complication of cancer and its treatment. Community acquired respiratory viral infections (CRV) in these patients increase morbidity, mortality and can lead to delay in chemotherapy. These are the result of infections with a heterogeneous group of viruses including RNA viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus (IV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), metapneumovirus (HMPV), rhinovirus (RhV), and coronavirus (CoV). These infections maintain a similar seasonal pattern to those of immunocompetent patients. Clinical manifestations vary significantly depending on the type of virus and the type and degree of immunosuppression, ranging from asymptomatic or mild disease to rapidly progressive fatal pneumonia Infections in this population are characterized by a high rate of progression from upper to lower respiratory tract infection and prolonged viral shedding. Use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy are risk factors for severe disease. The clinical course is often difficult to predict, and clinical signs are unreliable. Accurate prognostic viral and immune markers, which have become part of the standard of care for systemic viral infections, are currently lacking; and management of CRV infections remains controversial. Defining effective prophylactic and therapeutic strategies is challenging, especially considering, the spectrum of immunocompromised patients, the variety of respiratory viruses, and the presence of other opportunistic infections and medical problems. Prevention remains one of the most important strategies against these viruses. Early diagnosis, supportive care and antivirals at an early stage, when available and indicated, have proven beneficial. However, with the exception of neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza infection, there are no accepted treatments. In high-risk patients, pre-emptive treatment with antivirals for upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) to decrease progression to LRTI is a common strategy. In the future, viral load and immune markers may prove beneficial in predicting severe disease, supporting decision making and monitor treatment in this population.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids from Phyllocaulis boraceiensis mucus block the replication of influenza virus

Influenza viruses cause worldwide outbreaks and pandemics in humans and animals every year with considerable morbidity and mortality. The molecular diversity of secondary metabolites extracted from mollusks is a good alternative for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds with unique structures and diverse biological activities. Phyllocaulis boraceiensis is a hermaphroditic slug that exudes mucus, in which was detected hydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acids that exhibited potent antiviral activity against measles virus. The objective of this study was to evaluate this property against Influenza viruses. Cell viability and toxicity of the mucus were evaluated on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells by MTT assay. Antiviral activity from mucus against influenza viruses was carried out by determination of the virus infection dose and by immunofluorescence assays. The crude mucus and its fractions exhibited low cytotoxicity on MDCK cells. A significant inhibition of viral replication, reduced by the order of eight times, was observed in influenza-induced cytopathic effect. In immunofluorescence assay was observed a decrease of more than 80% of the viral load on infected MDCK cell treated with mucus and its fractions. The viral glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase located on the surface of the virus are crucial for the replications and infectivity of the influenza virus. Some authors demonstrated that lipids, such as, polyunsaturated fatty acids exhibited multiple roles in antiviral innate and adaptive responses, control of inflammation, and in the development of antiviral therapeutics. As corroborated by other studies, hydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acids interfered with the binding of influenza virus on host cell receptor and reduced viral titers. The results obtained indicated that polyunsaturated fatty acids from P. boraceiensis crude mucus and fractions 39 exerted antiviral activity against influenza virus.

Within-Host Evolution of Human Influenza Virus

The rapid global evolution of influenza virus begins with mutations that arise de novo in individual infections, but little is known about how evolution occurs within hosts. We review recent progress in understanding how and why influenza viruses evolve within human hosts. Advances in deep sequencing make it possible to measure within-host genetic diversity in both acute and chronic influenza infections. Factors like antigenic selection, antiviral treatment, tissue specificity, spatial structure, and multiplicity of infection may affect how influenza viruses evolve within human hosts. Studies of within-host evolution can contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary and epidemiological factors that shape influenza virus's global evolution.

San Wu Huangqin Decoction, a Chinese Herbal Formula, Inhibits Influenza a/PR/8/34 (H1N1) Virus Infection In Vitro and In Vivo

The San Wu Huangqin Decoction (SWHD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, is used to treat colds caused by exposure to wind-pathogen, hyperpyrexia, infectious diseases and cancer; moreover, it is used for detoxification. The individual herbs of SWHD, such as Sophora flavescens and Scutellaria baicalensis, exhibit a wide spectrum of antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer and other properties. The Chinese compound formula of SWHD is composed of S. flavescens, S. baicalensis and Rehmannia glutinosa. However, the effect of SWHD on the influenza virus (IFV) and its mechanism remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, whether SWHD could be used to treat influenza. Results showed that SWHD could effectively inhibit influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus at different stages of viral replication (confirmed through antiviral effect assay, penetration assay, attachment assay and internalization assay) in vitro. It could reduce the infection of the virus in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as confirmed by observing the cell cytopathic effect and calculating the cell viability (p < 0.05). SWHD demonstrated better antiviral activity than oseltamivir in the evaluation of antiviral prophylaxis on influenza (p < 0.05). The antiviral activity of SWHD may be related to its regulation ability on the immune system. Western blot, real-time polymerase chain reaction and indirect immunofluorescence assay showed that the expression of the four target viral proteins of the IFV (namely, haemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix-2 (M2)) reduced significantly (p < 0.05). Moreover, SWHD (23.40 and 11.70 g/kg) significantly alleviated the clinical signs, reduced the mortality and increased the survival time of infected mice (p < 0.05). The lung index, virus titres, pathological changes in lung tissues and the expression of key proteins of the IFV in mice also decreased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, SWHD possessed anti-influenza activity. This work provided a new view of complementary therapy and drug discovery for clinical treatment.

Surveillance for antiviral resistance among influenza viruses circulating in Algeria during five consecutive influenza seasons (2009-2014)

Influenza season 2007/2008 was marked by a worldwide emergence of oseltamivir-resistant A(H1N1) viruses possessing a mutation in the neuraminidase gene causing His-to-Tyr substitution at amino acid position 275 (H275Y). These strains were isolated in Algeria where 30% of seasonal A(H1N1) viruses harbored the H275Y mutation. Emergence of resistant viruses to currently approved antiviral drug determined the need for antiviral susceptibility monitoring in Algeria especially that oseltamivir is currently used in hospitals of some provinces of the country for treatment of influenza in populations at risk. The aim of the present study is to investigate the sensitivity of circulating influenza viruses in Algeria to oseltamivir. We present 5-year local surveillance results from 2009/2010 influenza season to 2013/2014 influenza season. We tested the sensitivity to oseltamivir of 387 human influenza A and B viruses isolated in Algeria. Determination of IC₅₀ values were performed using the fluorogenic MUNANA substrate. To detect the H275Y mutation in the neuraminidase of the A(H1N1) strains we performed a real-time RT-PCR allelic discrimination analysis. The obtained results showed that all influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and B viruses studied remained susceptible to oseltamivir. This is the first study on influenza antiviral susceptibility surveillance in Algeria. Obtained results allow establishing a baseline data for future studies on antiviral resistance emergence worldwide. Our report highlights the importance of a continued and active monitoring of circulating viruses in Algeria for strengthens collaboration within the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.

Material basis studies of anti-Influenza A active ingredients in Tanreqing Injection

Tanreqing Injection (TRQ) has been used primarily in treating infections of the upper respiratory tract and serious influenza in China, as a classical compound herbal recipe. TRQ had been demonstrated to have effects of clearing heat, eliminating phlegm, detoxification, reducing inflammation and alleviating cough. The survival rate, histopathology of lungs and viral titers in mice were evaluated in this study to verify the curative effect of TRQ. However, there is not enough information about the components. In the present study, a high-performance and practical LC/QTOF/MS method was developed for characterization and identification of the natural ingredients in TRQ. A total of 60 compounds, including 10 amino acids, 10 iridoid glucosides, 14 flavonoids, 13 other phenolic compounds, 10 steroid acids and three other compounds, were characterized and identified. We also confirmed the material basis of anti-Influenza A active ingredients in TRQ. Therefore, we have developed an accurate analytical method. LC/QTOF/MS could be applied for identification the complex components in traditional Chinese medicine.

Biological Evaluation of Uridine Derivatives of 2-Deoxy Sugars as Potential Antiviral Compounds against Influenza A Virus

Influenza virus infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to the limited ability of currently available treatments, there is an urgent need for new anti-influenza drugs with broad spectrum protection. We have previously shown that two 2-deoxy sugar derivatives of uridine (designated IW3 and IW7) targeting the glycan processing steps during maturation of viral glycoproteins show good anti-influenza virus activity and may be a promising alternative approach for the development of new anti-influenza therapy. In this study, a number of IW3 and IW7 analogues with different structural modifications in 2-deoxy sugar or uridine parts were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit influenza A virus infection in vitro. Using the cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay and viral plaque reduction assay in vitro, we showed that compounds 2, 3, and 4 exerted the most inhibitory effect on influenza virus A/ostrich/Denmark/725/96 (H5N2) infection in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) for virus growth ranging from 82 to 100 (μM) without significant toxicity for the cells. The most active compound (2) showed activity of 82 μM with a selectivity index value of 5.27 against type A (H5N2) virus. Additionally, compound 2 reduced the formation of HA glycoprotein in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, an analysis of physicochemical properties of studied compounds demonstrated a significant linear correlation between lipophilicity and antiviral activity. Therefore, inhibition of influenza A virus infection by conjugates of uridine and 2-deoxy sugars is a new promising approach for the development of new derivatives with anti-influenza activities.

Parallel evolution of influenza across multiple spatiotemporal scales

Viral variants that arise in the global influenza population begin as de novo mutations in single infected hosts, but the evolutionary dynamics that transform within-host variation to global genetic diversity are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that influenza evolution within infected humans recapitulates many evolutionary dynamics observed at the global scale. We deep-sequence longitudinal samples from four immunocompromised patients with long-term H3N2 influenza infections. We find parallel evolution across three scales: within individual patients, in different patients in our study, and in the global influenza population. In hemagglutinin, a small set of mutations arises independently in multiple patients. These same mutations emerge repeatedly within single patients and compete with one another, providing a vivid clinical example of clonal interference. Many of these recurrent within-host mutations also reach a high global frequency in the decade following the patient infections. Our results demonstrate surprising concordance in evolutionary dynamics across multiple spatiotemporal scales.

The hydrophobic side chain of oseltamivir influences type A subtype selectivity of neuraminidase inhibitors

Neuraminidase, which plays a critical role in the influenza virus life cycle, is a target for new therapeutic agents. The study of structure-activity relationships revealed that the C-5 position amino group of oseltamivir was pointed to 150-cavity of the neuraminidase in group 1. This cavity is important for selectivity of inhibitors against N1 versus N2 NA. A serial of influenza neuraminidase inhibitors with the oseltamivir scaffold containing lipophilic side chains at the C-5 position have been synthesized and evaluated for their influenza neuraminidase inhibitory activity and selectivity. The results indicated that compound 13o (H5N1 IC₅₀  = 0.1 ± 0.04 μm, H3N2 IC₅₀  = 0.26 ± 0.18 μm) showed better inhibitory activity and selectivity against the group 1 neuraminidase. This study may provide a clue to design of better group 1 neuraminidase inhibitors.

An M2-V27A channel blocker demonstrates potent in vitro and in vivo antiviral activities against amantadine-sensitive and -resistant influenza A viruses

Adamantanes such as amantadine (1) and rimantadine (2) are FDA-approved anti-influenza drugs that act by inhibiting the wild-type M2 proton channel from influenza A viruses, thereby inhibiting the uncoating of the virus. Although adamantanes have been successfully used for more than four decades, their efficacy was curtailed by emerging drug resistance. Among the limited number of M2 mutants that confer amantadine resistance, the M2-V27A mutant was found to be the predominant mutant under drug selection pressure, thereby representing a high profile antiviral drug target. Guided by molecular dynamics simulations, we previously designed first-in-class M2-V27A inhibitors. One of the potent lead compounds, spiroadamantane amine (3), inhibits both the M2-WT and M2-V27A mutant with IC₅₀ values of 18.7 and 0.3 μM, respectively, in in vitro electrophysiological assays. Encouraged by these findings, in this study we further examine the in vitro and in vivo antiviral activity of compound 3 in inhibiting both amantadine-sensitive and -resistant influenza A viruses. Compound 3 not only had single to sub-micromolar EC₅₀ values against M2-WT- and M2-V27A-containing influenza A viruses in antiviral assays, but also rescued mice from lethal viral infection by either M2-WT- or M2-V27A-containing influenza A viruses. In addition, we report the design of two analogs of compound 3, and one was found to have improved in vitro antiviral activity over compound 3. Collectively, this study represents the first report demonstrating the in vivo antiviral efficacy of inhibitors targeting M2 mutants. The results suggest that inhibitors targeting drug-resistant M2 mutants are promising antiviral drug candidates worthy of further development.

Mahuang-Xixin-Fuzi decoction reduces the infection of influenza A virus in Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Mahuang-Xixin-Fuzi Decoction (MXF) as a famous formula for the treatment of colds, fever, nasal congestion and headache with elder people, has always been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. The present study is aimed at investigating the treatment effect of MXF on Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome in mice simultaneously infected with H1N1 virus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We employed the Kidney-Yang deficiency mouse model to investigate the effect of MXF against influenza A virus (A/FM/1/47, H1N1). Mice were infected with the virus after fifteen days Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome was established (intraperitoneal injection of estradiol benzoate), while MXF was orally administrated with 1.2-4.7g/kg/d for 6 consecutive days after inoculation. Body weight, rectal temperature, morbidity, and mortality were recorded daily. Histopathologic changes, antioxidant activity of SOD and MDA were detected. Moreover, levels of inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, TNF-α were measured in the sera of mice.

RESULTS

We found that the extract of MXF at dosages of 2.3-4.7g/kg could effectively diminish mortality rate, ameliorate lung edema and inflammation. Administration of MXF decoction significantly depressed the expression of IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-α, and markedly increased expression of IL-10 in serum. Simultaneously, the extract was also found to reduce MDA and increase SOD in the lung tissue of mice.

CONCLUSION

These data support the notion that the extract of MXF could treat Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome in mice simultaneously infected with influenza A virus by reducing inflammation and increasing antioxidant activities.

Discovery of cyclosporine A and its analogs as broad-spectrum anti-influenza drugs with a high in vitro genetic barrier of drug resistance

As the number of drug-resistant influenza viruses continues to increase, antivirals with novel mechanisms of action are urgently needed. Among the two classes of FDA-approved antiviral drugs, neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors, oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir, are currently the only choice for the prevention and treatment of influenza virus infection. Due to the antigenic drift and antigenic shift, it will only be a matter of time before influenza viruses become completely resistant to these NA inhibitors. In pursuing the next generation of antiviral drugs with complementary mechanisms of action to those of the NA inhibitors, we have identified a natural product, cyclosporine A (CsA) (1), as a desired drug candidate. In this study, we discovered that CsA (1) and its analogs have broad-spectrum antiviral activity against multiple influenza A and B strains, including strains that are resistant to either NA or M2 inhibitors or both. Moreover, CsA (1) displays a high in vitro genetic barrier of drug resistance than oseltamivir carboxylate Mechanistic studies revealed that CsA (1) acts at the intermediate step of viral replication post viral fusion. Its antiviral mechanism is independent of inhibiting the isomerase activity of cyclophilin A (CypA), and CsA (1) has no effect on the viral polymerase activity The potent antiviral efficacy of CsA (1), coupled with the high in vitro genetic barrier of drug resistance and novel mechanism of action, renders CsA (1) a promising anti-influenza drug candidate for further development.

Neutralization and Binding Profile of Monoclonal Antibodies Generated Against Influenza A H1N1 Viruses

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) provide scope for the development of better therapeutics and diagnostic tools. Herein, we describe the binding and neutralization profile(s) for a panel of murine MAbs generated against influenza A H1N1 viruses elicited by immunization with pandemic H1 recombinant hemagglutinin (rHA)/whole virus or seasonal H1 rHA. Neutralizing MAbs, MA-2070 and MA-M, were obtained after pandemic A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) virus/rHA immunization(s). Both MAbs reacted specifically with rHA from A/California/07/2009 and A/England/195/2009 in ELISA. MA-2070 bound rHA of A/California/07/2009 with high affinity (KD = 51.36 ± 9.20 nM) and exhibited potent in vitro neutralization (IC50 = 2.50 μg/mL). MA-2070 bound within the stem domain of HA. MA-M exhibited both hemagglutination inhibition (HI, 1.50 μg/mL) and in vitro neutralization (IC50 = 0.66 μg/mL) activity against the pandemic A/California/07/2009 virus and showed higher binding affinity (KD = 9.80 ± 0.67 nM) than MA-2070. MAb, MA-H generated against the seasonal A/Solomon Islands/03/2006 (H1N1) rHA binds within the head domain and bound the seasonal H1N1 (A/Solomon Islands/03/2006 and A/New Caledonia/20/1990) rHAs with high affinity (KD; 0.72-8.23 nM). MA-H showed high HI (2.50 μg/mL) and in vitro neutralization (IC50 = 2.61 μg/mL) activity against the A/Solomon Islands/03/2006 virus. All 3 MAbs failed to react in ELISA with rHA from various strains of H2N2, H3N2, H5N1, H7N9, and influenza virus B, suggesting their specificity for either pandemic or seasonal H1N1 influenza virus. The MAbs reported here may be useful in developing diagnostic assays.

Impact of HIV on the severity of influenza

Despite current antiretroviral therapy, HIV/AIDS is one of the most prelevant problems in healthcare worldwide. Similarly, influenza viruses are causes of epidemics outbreaks. HIV-infected patients are considered a high risk group for severe influenza infection, although several recent observational studies suggest that not all HIV-infected patients are equally susceptible to complications and that these patients should be stratified by their immunodeficiency status and other factors (such as smoking or comorbidities). Here, we have compiled the most recent data on the impact that HIV has on influenza infection.

Respiratory Infections

The majority of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are community acquired and are the single most common cause of physician office visits and among the most common causes of hospitalizations. The morbidity and mortality associated with RTIs are significant and the financial and social burden high due to lost time at work and school. The scope of clinical symptoms can significantly overlap among the respiratory pathogens, and the severity of disease can vary depending on patient age, underlying disease, and immune status, thereby leading to inaccurate presumptions about disease etiology. The rapid and accurate diagnosis of the causative agent of RTIs improves patient care, reduces morbidity and mortality, promotes effective hospital bed utilization and antibiotic stewardship, and reduces length of stay. This chapter focuses on the clinical utility, advantages, and disadvantages of viral and bacterial tests cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and new promising technologies for the detection of bacterial agents of pneumonia currently in development or in US FDA clinical trials are briefly reviewed.

A review of neuraminidase inhibitor susceptibility in influenza strains

Influenza human infections are considered as a persistent global public health issue. Whereas vaccination is important for prevention, given its limitations, antiviral therapy is at the forefront of treatment, while it also plays a significant role in prevention. Currently, two classes of drugs, adamantanes (M2 blockers) and neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), are available for treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza infections. Given the resistance patterns of circulating influenza strains, adamantanes are not currently recommended. The current review mainly focuses on the development of resistance to NAIs among A and B subtypes of influenza virus strains over the last 5 years. 'Permissive' drift mutations and reassortment of viral gene segments have resulted in NAI oseltamivir-resistant A/(H1N1) variants that rapidly became predominant worldwide in the period 2007-2009. However, the prevalence of antiviral resistance to NAI zanamivir remains relatively low. In addition, the recently developed NAIs, peramivir and laninamivir, while licensed in certain countries, are still under evaluation and only a few reports have described resistance to peramivir. Although in 2014, the majority of circulating human influenza viruses remains susceptible to all NAIs, the emergence of oseltamivir-resistant influenza variants that could retain viral transmissibility, highlights the necessity for enhanced epidemiological and microbiological surveillance and clinical assessment of antiviral resistance.

A Potent Anti-influenza Compound Blocks Fusion through Stabilization of the Prefusion Conformation of the Hemagglutinin Protein

An ultrahigh-throughput screen was performed to identify novel small molecule inhibitors of influenza virus replication. The screen employed a recombinant influenza A/WSN/33 virus expressing Renilla luciferase and yielded a hit rate of 0.5%, of which the vast majority showed little cytotoxicity at the inhibitory concentration. One of the top hits from this screen, designated S20, inhibits HA-mediated membrane fusion. S20 shows potent antiviral activity (IC₅₀ = 80 nM) and low toxicity (CC₅₀ = 40 μM), yielding a selectivity index of 500 and functionality against all of the group 1 influenza A viruses tested in this study, including the pandemic H1N1 and avian H5N1 viruses. Mechanism of action studies proved a direct S20–HA interaction and showed that S20 inhibits fusion by stabilizing the prefusion conformation of HA. In silico docking studies were performed, and the predicted binding site in HA2 corresponds with the area where resistance mutations occurred and correlates with the known role of this region in fusion. This high-throughput screen has yielded many promising new lead compounds, including S20, which will potentially shed light on the molecular mechanisms of viral infection and serve as research tools or be developed for clinical use as antivirals.

Safety and efficacy of peramivir for influenza treatment

Objective

This report presents a review of the efficacy and safety of peramivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor that was granted Emergency Use Authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from October 23, 2009 to June 23, 2010 during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

Methods

Literature was accessed via PubMed (January 2000–April 2014) using several search terms: peramivir; BCX-1812; RWJ 270201; H1N1, influenza; antivirals; and neuraminidase inhibitors. The peramivir manufacturers, Shionogi and Co Ltd and BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, were contacted to obtain unpublished data and information presented at recent scientific meetings. Information was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from US FDA websites. English-language and Japanese-language reports in the literature were reviewed and selected based on relevance, along with information from the CDC, US FDA, and the drug manufacturers.

Results

We obtained eleven clinical trial reports of intravenous peramivir, two of which described comparisons with oseltamivir. Seven of nine other recently reported published studies was a dose–response study. Clinical reports of critically ill patients and pediatric patients infected with pandemic H1N1 described that early treatment significantly decreased mortality. Peramivir administered at 300 mg once daily in adult patients with influenza significantly reduces the time to alleviation of symptoms or fever compared to placebo. It is likely to be as effective as other neuraminidase inhibitors.

Conclusion

Although peramivir shows efficacy for the treatment of seasonal and pH1N1 influenza, it has not received US FDA approval. Peramivir is used safely and efficiently in hospitalized adult and pediatric patients with suspected or laboratory-confirmed influenza. Peramivir might be a beneficial alternative antiviral treatment for many patients, including those unable to receive inhaled or oral neuraminidase inhibitors, or those requiring nonintravenous drug delivery.

Continuing challenges in influenza

Influenza is an acute respiratory disease in mammals and domestic poultry that emerges from zoonotic reservoirs in aquatic birds and bats. Although influenza viruses are among the most intensively studied pathogens, existing control options require further improvement. Influenza vaccines must be regularly updated because of continuous antigenic drift and sporadic antigenic shifts in the viral surface glycoproteins. Currently, influenza therapeutics are limited to neuraminidase inhibitors; novel drugs and vaccine approaches are therefore urgently needed. Advances in vaccinology and structural analysis have revealed common antigenic epitopes on hemagglutinins across all influenza viruses and suggest that a universal influenza vaccine is possible. In addition, various immunomodulatory agents and signaling pathway inhibitors are undergoing preclinical development. Continuing challenges in influenza include the emergence of pandemic H1N1 influenza in 2009, human infections with avian H7N9 influenza in 2013, and sporadic human cases of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza. Here, we review the challenges facing influenza scientists and veterinary and human public health officials; we also discuss the exciting possibility of achieving the ultimate goal of controlling influenza's ability to change its antigenicity.

Oseltamivir-resistant influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in southern Brazil

The neuraminidase (NA) genes of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus isolates from 306 infected patients were analysed. The circulation of oseltamivir-resistant viruses in Brazil has not been reported previously. Clinical samples were collected in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) from 2009-2011 and two NA inhibitor-resistant mutants were identified, one in 2009 (H275Y) and the other in 2011 (S247N). This study revealed a low prevalence of resistant viruses (0.8%) with no spread of the resistant mutants throughout RS.

Prevention and Control of Influenza Viruses

The 2003–2004 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have proven to be disastrous to the regional poultry industry in Asia, and have raised serious worldwide public health apprehension regarding the steps that should be taken to urgently control HPAI. Control measures must be taken based on the principles of biosecurity and disease management and at the same time making public aware of the precautionary measures at the verge of outbreak. Creation of protection and surveillance zones, various vaccination strategies viz. routine, preventive, emergency, mass and targeted vaccination programmes using live, inactivated and recombinant vaccines are the common strategies adopted in different parts of the globe. The new generation vaccines include recombinant vaccines and recombinant fusion vaccine. The pro-poor disease control programmes, giving compensation and subsidies to the farmers along with effective and efficient Veterinary Services forms integral part of control of HPAI. Following biosecurity principles and vaccination forms integral part of control programme against swine and equine influenza as well. Use of neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors (Zanamivir and Oseltamivir) for the treatment of human influenza has been widely accepted worldwide. The threat of increasing resistance of the flu viruses to these antivirals has evoked interest in the development of novel antiviral drugs for influenza virus such as inhibitors of cellular factors and host signalling cascades, cellular miRNAs, siRNA and innate immune peptides (defensins and cathelicidins). Commercial licensed inactivated vaccines for humans against influenza A and B viruses are available consisting of three influenza viruses: influenza type A subtype H3N2, influenza type A subtype H1N1 (seasonal) virus strain and influenza type B virus strain. As per WHO, use of tetravaccine consisting of antigens of influenza virus serotypes H3N2, H1N1, B and H5 is the most promising method to control influenza pandemic. All healthy children in many countries are required to be vaccinated between 6 and 59 months of age. The seasonal vaccines currently used in humans induce strain-specific humoral immunity as the antibodies. Universal influenza virus vaccines containing the relatively conserved ectodomain of M2 (M2e), M1, HA fusion peptide and stalk domains, NA, NP alone or in combination have been developed which have been shown to induce cross-protection. The T cell-based vaccines are another recent experimental approach that has been shown to elicit broad-spectrum heterosubtypic immunity in the host. As far as HPAI is concerned, various pandemic preparedness strategies have been documented.

Jiawei-Yupingfeng-Tang, a Chinese herbal formula, inhibits respiratory viral infections in vitro and in vivo

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Jiawei-Yupingfeng-Tang (JYT) is a Chinese herbal formula that is widely used to treat respiratory tract illness. However, the effect of JYT on respiratory viruses remains unknown. The influenza virus (IFV) and the human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) cause millions of cases of severe illness per year, and many of these illnesses develop into lethal pneumonia. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether JYT can be used to treat these infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of JYT against IFV and HRSV was tested using a plaque reduction assay in the lower respiratory tract cell line A549. The expression of ICAM-1 was determined by real-time RT-PCR and western blotting. A mouse model infected with lethal influenza developing into interstitial pneumonia was used to evaluate the effect of JYT in vivo.

RESULTS

JYT extract inhibited both IFV and HRSV in a dose-dependent manner when given before, during and after a viral infection. JYT was effective in blocking the entry of the virus. Furthermore, pre-treatment with JYT reduced the susceptibility of cells to the invasion of HRSV by inhibiting the expression of ICAM-1. Importantly, JYT extract increased the survival rate of lethal influenza-infected mice, prolonged the survival time and alleviated the virus-induced lung lesions, which is comparable with the effects of ribavirin treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support JYT as an alternative modality to be used in the treatment of respiratory viral infection induced by HRSV and IFV.

Anti-influenza A virus activity of uridine derivatives of 2-deoxy sugars

Influenza viruses are important pathogens that cause respiratory infections in humans and animals. Apart from vaccinations, antiviral drugs play a significant role in controlling spread of the disease. Influenza A virus contains two membrane glycoproteins on the external part of viral envelope: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), which are crucial for productive infection in target cells. In the present work, two derivatives of tunicamycin - uridine derivatives of 2-deoxy sugars (designated IW3 and IW7), which target the glycan processing steps during maturation of viral glycoproteins, were assayed for their ability to inhibit influenza A virus infection in vitro. Using the cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay and viral plaque reduction assay we showed, that both IW3 and IW7 inhibitors exerted significant inhibitory effect on influenza A virus infection in MDCK cells without significant toxicity for the cells. Moreover, tested compounds selectively suppressed viral protein expression in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that the mechanism of their antiviral activity may be similar to this shown previously for other viruses. We have also excluded the possibility that both inhibitors act at the replication step of virus life cycle. Using real-time PCR assay it was shown that IW3 and IW7 did not change the level of viral RNA in infected MDCK cells after a single round of infection. Therefore, inhibition of influenza A virus infection by uridine derivatives of 2-deoxy sugars, acting as glycosylation inhibitors, is a promising alternative approach for the development of new anti-influenza A therapy.

Molecular distribution of amino acid substitutions on neuraminidase from the 2009 (H1N1) human influenza pandemic virus

The pandemic influenza AH1N1 (2009) caused an outbreak of human infection that spread to the world. Neuraminidase (NA) is an antigenic surface glycoprotein, which is essential to the influenza infection process, and is the target of anti-flu drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. Currently, NA inhibitors are the pillar pharmacological strategy against seasonal and global influenza. Although mutations observed after NA-inhibitor treatment are characterized by changes in conserved amino acids of the enzyme catalytic site, it is possible that specific amino acid substitutions (AASs) distant from the active site such as H274Y, could confer oseltamivir or zanamivir resistance. To better understand the molecular distribution pattern of NA AASs, we analyzed NA AASs from all available reported pandemic AH1N1 NA sequences, including those reported from America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and specifically from Mexico. The molecular distributions of the AASs were obtained at the secondary structure domain level for both the active and catalytic sites, and compared between geographic regions. Our results showed that NA AASs from America, Asia, Europe, Oceania and Mexico followed similar molecular distribution patterns. The compiled data of this study showed that highly conserved amino acids from the NA active site and catalytic site are indeed being affected by mutations. The reported NA AASs follow a similar molecular distribution pattern worldwide. Although most AASs are distributed distantly from the active site, this study shows the emergence of mutations affecting the previously conserved active and catalytic site. A significant number of unique AASs were reported simultaneously on different continents.

Influenza viruses: breaking all the rules

Influenza A viruses (IAV) are significant pathogens able to repeatedly switch hosts to infect multiple avian and mammalian species, including humans. The unpredictability of IAV evolution and interspecies movement creates continual public health challenges, such as the emergence of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus from swine, as well as pandemic threats from the ongoing H5N1 and the recent H7N9 epizootics. In the last decade there has been increased concern about the “dual use” nature of microbiology, and a set of guidelines covering “dual use research of concern” includes seven categories of potentially problematic scientific experiments. In this Perspective, we consider how in nature IAV continually undergo “dual use experiments” as a matter of evolution and selection, and we conclude that studying these properties of IAV is critical for mitigating and preventing future epidemics and pandemics.

Using high-throughput sequencing to leverage surveillance of genetic diversity and oseltamivir resistance: a pilot study during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic

BACKGROUND

Influenza viruses display a high mutation rate and complex evolutionary patterns. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been widely used for qualitative and semi-quantitative assessment of genetic diversity in complex biological samples. The "deep sequencing" approach, enabled by the enormous throughput of current NGS platforms, allows the identification of rare genetic viral variants in targeted genetic regions, but is usually limited to a small number of samples.

METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We designed a proof-of-principle study to test whether redistributing sequencing throughput from a high depth-small sample number towards a low depth-large sample number approach is feasible and contributes to influenza epidemiological surveillance. Using 454-Roche sequencing, we sequenced at a rather low depth, a 307 bp amplicon of the neuraminidase gene of the Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic (A(H1N1)pdm) virus from cDNA amplicons pooled in 48 barcoded libraries obtained from nasal swab samples of infected patients (n  =  299) taken from May to November, 2009 pandemic period in Mexico. This approach revealed that during the transition from the first (May-July) to second wave (September-November) of the pandemic, the initial genetic variants were replaced by the N248D mutation in the NA gene, and enabled the establishment of temporal and geographic associations with genetic diversity and the identification of mutations associated with oseltamivir resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

NGS sequencing of a short amplicon from the NA gene at low sequencing depth allowed genetic screening of a large number of samples, providing insights to viral genetic diversity dynamics and the identification of genetic variants associated with oseltamivir resistance. Further research is needed to explain the observed replacement of the genetic variants seen during the second wave. As sequencing throughput rises and library multiplexing and automation improves, we foresee that the approach presented here can be scaled up for global genetic surveillance of influenza and other infectious diseases.

Prevention of infection caused by immunosuppressive drugs in gastroenterology

Immunosuppressive therapy is frequently used to treat gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune hepatitis, IgG4-related disease (autoimmune pancreatitis and sclerosing cholangitis) and in the post-transplantation setting. These drugs interfere with the immune system. The main safety concern with their use is the risk of infections. Certain infections can be prevented or their impact minimized. Physicians must adopt preventative strategies and should have a high degree of suspicion to recognize infections early and treat appropriately. This article reviews the risk factors for infections, the mechanism of action of immunosuppressive therapy and proposes preventive strategies.

Influenza virus resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors

In addition to immunization programs, antiviral agents can play a major role for the control of seasonal influenza epidemics and may also provide prophylactic and therapeutic benefits during an eventual pandemic. The purpose of this article is to review the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics and clinical indications of neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) with an emphasis on the emergence of antiviral drug resistance. There are two approved NAIs compounds in US: inhaled zanamivir and oral oseltamivir, which have been commercially available since 1999-2000. In addition, two other NAIs, peramivir (an intravenous cyclopentane derivative) and laninamivir (a long-acting NAI administered by a single nasal inhalation) have been approved in certain countries and are under clinical evaluations in others. As for other antivirals, the development and dissemination of drug resistance is a significant threat to the clinical utility of NAIs. The emergence and worldwide spread of oseltamivir-resistant seasonal A(H1N1) viruses during the 2007-2009 seasons emphasize the need for continuous monitoring of antiviral drug susceptibilities. Further research priorities should include a better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to existing antivirals, the development of novel compounds which target viral or host proteins and the evaluation of combination therapies for improved treatment of severe influenza infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "Treatment of influenza: targeting the virus or the host."