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Zhang Y, Cui P, Shi J, Zeng X, Jiang Y, Chen Y, Zhang J, Wang C, Wang Y, Tian G, Chen H, Kong H, Deng G. A broad-spectrum vaccine candidate against H5 viruses bearing different sub-clade 2.3.4.4 HA genes. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:152. [PMID: 39160189 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00947-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The global spread of H5 clade 2.3.4.4 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses threatens poultry and public health. The continuous circulation of these viruses has led to their considerable genetic and antigenic evolution, resulting in the formation of eight subclades (2.3.4.4a-h). Here, we examined the antigenic sites that determine the antigenic differences between two H5 vaccine strains, H5-Re8 (clade 2.3.4.4g) and H5-Re11 (clade 2.3.4.4h). Epitope mapping data revealed that all eight identified antigenic sites were located within two classical antigenic regions, with five sites in region A (positions 115, 120, 124, 126, and 140) and three in region B (positions 151, 156, and 185). Through antigenic cartography analysis of mutants with varying numbers of substitutions, we confirmed that a combination of mutations in these eight sites reverses the antigenicity of H5-Re11 to that of H5-Re8, and vice versa. More importantly, our analyses identified H5-Re11_Q115L/R120S/A156T (H5-Re11 + 3) as a promising candidate for a broad-spectrum vaccine, positioned centrally in the antigenic map, and offering potential universal protection against all variants within the clade 2.3.4.4. H5-Re11 + 3 serum has better cross-reactivity than sera generated with other 2.3.4.4 vaccines, and H5-Re11 + 3 vaccine provided 100% protection of chickens against antigenically drifted H5 viruses from various 2.3.4.4 antigenic groups. Our findings suggest that antigenic regions A and B are immunodominant in H5 viruses, and that antigenic cartography-guided vaccine design is a promising strategy for selecting a broad-spectrum vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuancheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Pengfei Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Jianzhong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Xianying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yongping Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Congcong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Guobin Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Hualan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Huihui Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China.
| | - Guohua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China.
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Shi K, Feng S, Zhao L, Chen J, Song W, Jia Y, Qu X, Liu Z, Jia W, Du S, Liao M. N-glycosylation on hemagglutinin head reveals inter-branch antigenic variability of avian influenza virus H5-subtypes. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 273:132901. [PMID: 38848854 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
H5-subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) is globally prevalent and undergoes frequent antigenic drift, necessitating regular updates to vaccines. One of the many influencing elements that cause incompatibility between vaccinations and epidemic strains is the dynamic alteration of glycosylation sites. However, the biological significance of N-glycosylation in the viral evolution and antigenic changes is unclear. Here, we performed a systematic analysis of glycosylation sites on the HA1 subunit of H5N1, providing insights into the changes of primary glycosylation sites, including 140 N, 156 N, and 170 N within the antigenic epitopes of HA1 protein. Multiple recombinant viruses were then generated based on HA genes of historical vaccine strains and deactivated for immunizing SPF chickens. Inactivated recombinant strains showed relatively closer antigenicity compared to which has identical N-glycosylation patterns. The N-glycosylation modification discrepancy highlights the inter-branch antigenic diversity of H5-subtype viruses in avian influenza and serves as a vital foundation for improving vaccination tactics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyi Shi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Saixiang Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Junhong Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wei Song
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yusheng Jia
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaoyun Qu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhicheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory for prevention and control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Weixin Jia
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Shouwen Du
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory for prevention and control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Ming Liao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory for prevention and control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Zhongkai University of Agricultural and Engineering, Guangzhou 510550, China.
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Yang F, Zhao X, Huo C, Miao X, Qin T, Chen S, Peng D, Liu X. An avian-origin internal backbone effectively increases the H5 subtype avian influenza vaccine candidate yield in both chicken embryonated eggs and MDCK cells. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103988. [PMID: 38970848 PMCID: PMC11269899 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Inactivated vaccines play an important role in preventing and controlling the epidemic caused by the H5 subtype avian influenza virus. The vaccine strains are updated in response to alterations in surface protein antigens, while an avian-derived vaccine internal backbone with a high replicative capacity in chicken embryonated eggs and MDCK cells is essential for vaccine development. In this study, we constructed recombinant viruses using the clade 2.3.4.4d A/chicken/Jiangsu/GY5/2017(H5N6, CkG) strain as the surface protein donor and the clade 2.3.4.4b A/duck/Jiangsu/84512/2017(H5N6, Dk8) strain with high replicative ability as an internal donor. After optimization, the integration of the M gene from the CkG into the internal genes from Dk8 (8GM) was selected as the high-yield vaccine internal backbone, as the combination improved the hemagglutinin1/nucleoprotein (HA1/NP) ratio in recombinant viruses. The r8GMΔG with attenuated hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from the CkG exhibited high-growth capacity in both chicken embryos and MDCK cell cultures. The inactivated r8GMΔG vaccine candidate also induced a higher hemagglutination inhibition antibody titer and microneutralization titer than the vaccine strain using PR8 as the internal backbone. Further, the inactivated r8GMΔG vaccine candidate provided complete protection against wild-type strain challenge. Therefore, our study provides a high-yield, easy-to-cultivate candidate donor as an internal gene backbone for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Chenzhi Huo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Xinyu Miao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; The International Joint Laboratory for Cooperation in Agriculture and Agricultural Product Safety, Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Research Centre of Engineering and Technology for Prevention and Control of Poultry Disease, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Tao Qin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; The International Joint Laboratory for Cooperation in Agriculture and Agricultural Product Safety, Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Research Centre of Engineering and Technology for Prevention and Control of Poultry Disease, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Sujuan Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; The International Joint Laboratory for Cooperation in Agriculture and Agricultural Product Safety, Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Research Centre of Engineering and Technology for Prevention and Control of Poultry Disease, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Daxin Peng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; The International Joint Laboratory for Cooperation in Agriculture and Agricultural Product Safety, Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Research Centre of Engineering and Technology for Prevention and Control of Poultry Disease, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
| | - Xiufan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Research Centre of Engineering and Technology for Prevention and Control of Poultry Disease, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
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Li X, Li Y, Shang X, Kong H. A sequence-based machine learning model for predicting antigenic distance for H3N2 influenza virus. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1345794. [PMID: 38314434 PMCID: PMC10834737 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1345794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Seasonal influenza A H3N2 viruses are constantly changing, reducing the effectiveness of existing vaccines. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) needs to frequently update the vaccine strains to match the antigenicity of emerged H3N2 variants. Traditional assessments of antigenicity rely on serological methods, which are both labor-intensive and time-consuming. Although numerous computational models aim to simplify antigenicity determination, they either lack a robust quantitative linkage between antigenicity and viral sequences or focus restrictively on selected features. Methods Here, we propose a novel computational method to predict antigenic distances using multiple features, including not only viral sequence attributes but also integrating four distinct categories of features that significantly affect viral antigenicity in sequences. Results This method exhibits low error in virus antigenicity prediction and achieves superior accuracy in discerning antigenic drift. Utilizing this method, we investigated the evolution process of the H3N2 influenza viruses and identified a total of 21 major antigenic clusters from 1968 to 2022. Discussion Interestingly, our predicted antigenic map aligns closely with the antigenic map generated with serological data. Thus, our method is a promising tool for detecting antigenic variants and guiding the selection of vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyi Li
- School of Computer Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Big Data Storage and Management MIIT Lab, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanyan Li
- School of Computer Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Big Data Storage and Management MIIT Lab, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xuequn Shang
- School of Computer Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Big Data Storage and Management MIIT Lab, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huihui Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, China
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Zhang Y, Cui P, Shi J, Chen Y, Zeng X, Jiang Y, Tian G, Li C, Chen H, Kong H, Deng G. Key Amino Acid Residues That Determine the Antigenic Properties of Highly Pathogenic H5 Influenza Viruses Bearing the Clade 2.3.4.4 Hemagglutinin Gene. Viruses 2023; 15:2249. [PMID: 38005926 PMCID: PMC10674173 DOI: 10.3390/v15112249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The H5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses bearing the clade 2.3.4.4 HA gene have been pervasive among domestic poultry and wild birds worldwide since 2014, presenting substantial risks to human and animal health. Continued circulation of clade 2.3.4.4 viruses has resulted in the emergence of eight subclades (2.3.4.4a-h) and multiple distinct antigenic groups. However, the key antigenic substitutions responsible for the antigenic change of these viruses remain unknown. In this study, we analyzed the HA gene sequences of 5713 clade 2.3.4.4 viruses obtained from a public database and found that 23 amino acid residues were highly variable among these strains. We then generated a series of single-amino-acid mutants based on the H5-Re8 (a vaccine seed virus) background and tested their reactivity with a panel of eight monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Six mutants bearing amino acid substitutions at positions 120, 126, 141, 156, 185, or 189 (H5 numbering) led to reduced or lost reactivity to these mAbs. Further antigenic cartography analysis revealed that the amino acid residues at positions 126, 156, and 189 acted as immunodominant epitopes of H5 viruses. Collectively, our findings offer valuable guidance for the surveillance and early detection of emerging antigenic variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuancheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Pengfei Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Jianzhong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Xianying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Yongping Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Guobin Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Chengjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Hualan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Huihui Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Guohua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150009, China; (Y.Z.); (P.C.); (J.S.); (Y.C.); (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (G.T.); (C.L.); (H.C.)
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Yao Z, Zheng H, Xiong J, Ma L, Gui R, Zhu G, Li Y, Yang G, Chen G, Zhang J, Chen Q. Genetic and Pathogenic Characterization of Avian Influenza Virus in Migratory Birds between 2015 and 2019 in Central China. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0165222. [PMID: 35862978 PMCID: PMC9431584 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01652-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Active surveillance of avian influenza virus (AIV) in wetlands and lakes is important for exploring the gene pool in wild birds. Through active surveillance from 2015 through 2019, 10,900 samples from wild birds in central China were collected, and 89 AIVs were isolated, including 2 subtypes of highly pathogenic AIV and 12 of low-pathogenic AIV; H9N2 and H6Ny were the dominant subtypes. Phylogenetic analysis of the isolates demonstrated that extensive intersubtype reassortments and frequent intercontinental gene exchange occurred in AIVs. AIV gene segments persistently circulated in several migration seasons, but interseasonal persistence of the whole genome was rare. The whole genomes of one H6N6 and polymerase basic 2 (PB2), polymerase acidic (PA), hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), M, and nonstructural (NS) genes of one H9N2 virus were found to be of poultry origin, suggesting a spillover of AIVs from poultry to wild birds. Importantly, one H9N2 virus only bound to human-type receptor, and one H1N1, four H6, and seven H9N2 viruses possessed dual receptor-binding capacity. Nineteen of 20 representative viruses tested could replicate in the lungs of mice without preadaptation, which poses a clear threat of infection in humans. Together, our study highlights the need for intensive AIV surveillance. IMPORTANCE Influenza virus surveillance in wild birds plays an important role in the early recognition and control of the virus. However, the AIV gene pool in wild birds in central China along the East Asian-Australasian flyway has not been well studied. Here, we conducted a 5-year AIV active surveillance in this region. Our data revealed the long-term circulation and prevalence of AIVs in wild birds in central China, and we observed that intercontinental gene exchange of AIVs is more frequent and continuous than previously thought. Spillover events from poultry to wild bird were observed in H6 and H9 viruses. In addition, in 20 representative viruses, 12 viruses could bind human-type receptors, and 19 viruses could replicate in mice without preadaption. Our work highlights the potential threat of wild bird AIVs to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongzi Yao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early Warning, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huabin Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early Warning, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiasong Xiong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early Warning, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liping Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early Warning, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Gui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early Warning, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gongliang Zhu
- The Monitoring Center of Wildlife Diseases and Resource of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong Li
- The Monitoring Center of Wildlife Diseases and Resource of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Guoxiang Yang
- The Monitoring Center of Wildlife Diseases and Resource of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Guang Chen
- The Monitoring Center of Wildlife Diseases and Resource of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- The Monitoring Center of Wildlife Diseases and Resource of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Quanjiao Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early Warning, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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