The pathogenicity of swan derived H5N1 virus in birds and mammals and its gene analysis

Molecular Analysis of the Avian H7 Influenza Viruses Circulating in South Korea during 2018-2019: Evolutionary Significance and Associated Zoonotic Threats

Avian influenza virus (AIV) subtypes H5 and H7, possessing the ability to mutate spontaneously from low pathogenic (LP) to highly pathogenic (HP) variants, are major concerns for enormous socio-economic losses in the poultry industry, as well as for fatal human infections. Through antigenic drift and shift, genetic reassortments of the genotypes pose serious threats of increased virulence and pathogenicity leading to potential pandemics. In this study, we isolated the H7-subtype AIVs circulating in the Republic of Korea during 2018–2019, and perform detailed molecular analysis to study their circulation, evolution, and possible emergence as a zoonotic threat. Phylogenetic and nucleotide sequence analyses of these isolates revealed their distribution into two distinct clusters, with the HA gene sharing the highest nucleotide identity with either the A/common teal/Shanghai/CM1216/2017, isolated from wild birds in Shanghai, China, or the A/duck/Shimane/2014, isolated from Japan. Mutations were found in HA (S138A (H3 numbering)), M1 (N30D and T215A), NS1 (P42S), PB2 (L89V), and PA (H266R and F277S) proteins—the mutations had previously been reported to be related to mammalian adaptation and changes in the virulence of AIVs. Taken together, the results firmly put forth the demand for routine surveillance of AIVs in wild birds to prevent possible pandemics arising from reassortant AIVs.

Registered Influenza Viral Vector Based Brucella abortus Vaccine for Cattle in Kazakhstan: Age-Wise Safety and Efficacy Studies

A novel influenza viral vector based Brucella abortus vaccine (Flu-BA) was introduced for use in cattle in Kazakhstan in 2019. In this study, the safety and efficacy of the vaccine was evaluated in male and female cattle at different ages, and during pregnancy as a part of its registration process. Our data demonstrated that the Flu-BA vaccine was safe after prime or booster vaccination in calves (5–7 months old male and female), heifers (15–17 months old) and cows (6–7 years old) and was not abortogenic in pregnant animals. A mild, localized granuloma was observed at the Flu-BA injection site. Vaccinated animals did not show signs of influenza infection or reduced milk production in dairy cows, and the influenza viral vector (IVV) was not recovered from nasal swabs or milk. Vaccinated animals in all age groups demonstrated increased IgG antibody responses against Brucella Omp16 and L7/L12 proteins with calves demonstrating the greatest increase in humoral responses. Following experimental challenge with B. abortus 544, vaccinates demonstrated greater protection and no signs of clinical disease, including abortion, were observed. The vaccine effectiveness against B. abortus 544 infection was 75, 60 and 60%, respectively, in calves, heifers and adult cows. Brucella were not isolated from calves of vaccinated cattle that were experimentally challenged during pregnancy. Our data suggests that the Flu-BA vaccine is safe and efficacious in cattle, including pregnant animals; and can therefore be administered to cattle of any age.

Near-Complete Genome Sequence of an H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus Strain Isolated from a Swan in Southwest Kazakhstan in 2006

We report the near-complete genome sequence of an influenza H5N1 virus strain isolated from a dead swan on the southeastern Caspian seashore in 2006. The results of the surface protein HA phylogenetic analysis showed that the A/swan/Mangystau/3/2006 virus belongs to the EA-nonGsGD clade.

MicroRNA expression profiles from HEK293 cells expressing H5N1 avian influenza virus non-structural protein 1

H5N1 avian influenza poses a serious threat to the poultry industry and human health. Non-structural protein 1 (NS1) plays an important role in the replication and pathogenesis of avian influenza virus (AIV). However, the function of the NS1 gene is still unclear. In this study, illumina genome analyzer iix screening was used to identify the differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in HEK293 cells expressing H5N1 AIV NS1. There were 13 differentially expressed miRNAs (hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-221-3p, hsa-miR-22-3p, hsa-miR-31-5p, hsa-miR-20a-5p, hsa-miR-222-3p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-3613-3p, hsa-miR-3178, hsa-miR-4505, hsa-miR-345-3p, hsa-miR-3648, and hsa-miR-455-3p) ( P < 0.01). The qRT-PCR validation results demonstrated that hsa-miR-221-3p, hsa-miR-22-3p, hsa-miR-20a-5p, and hsa-miR-3613-3p were upregulated, while hsa-miR-3178 and hsa-miR-4505 were down-regulated. The softwares targetscan and miranda were further used to predict their target genes, and the gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis results showed that 20 GO terms and 20 KEGG pathways were significantly enriched. Our findings are the first to report expression profiling of miRNA and their functions in H5N1 AIV NS1-expressing HEK293 cells, and pave the way to further elucidating the accurate interaction mechanism between NS1 and virus replication, thus providing brand new insight into the prophylaxis and treatment of H5N1 AIV.

Inactivated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus vaccine adjuvanted with Montanide™ Gel 01 ST elicits virus-specific cross-protective inter-genotypic response in piglets

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BEI-inactivated PRRSV candidate vaccine was developed using local Kazakh viral strains.

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Immune response and clinical disease were compared with a commercial PRRSV vaccine.

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Compared to commercial vaccine our vaccine induced better cross-protective response.

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Use of a potent adjuvant and local PRRSV strains in the vaccine formulation is beneficial.

The efficacy of a novel BEI-inactivated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) candidate vaccine in pigs, developed at RIBSP Republic of Kazakhstan and delivered with an adjuvant Montanide™ Gel 01 ST (D/KV/ADJ) was compared with a commercial killed PRRSV vaccine (NVDC-JXA1, C/KV/ADJ) used widely in swine herds of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Clinical parameters (body temperature and respiratory disease scores), virological and immunological profiles [ELISA and virus neutralizing (VN) antibody titers], macroscopic lung lesions and viral load in the lungs (quantitative real-time PCR and cell culture assay) were assessed in vaccinated and both genotype 1 and 2 PRRSV challenged pigs. Our results showed that the commercial vaccine failed to protect pigs adequately against the clinical disease, viremia and lung lesions caused by the challenged field isolates, Kazakh strains of PRRSV type 1 and type 2 genotypes. In contrast, clinical protection, absence of viremia and lung lesions in D/KV/ADJ vaccinated pigs was associated with generation of VN antibodies in both homologous vaccine strain LKZ/2010 (PRRSV type 2) and a heterogeneous type 1 PRRSV strain (CM/08) challenged pigs. Thus, our data indicated the induction of cross-protective VN antibodies by D/KV/ADJ vaccine, and importantly demonstrated that an inactivated PRRSV vaccine could also induce cross-protective response across the viral genotype.

Prime-booster vaccination of cattle with an influenza viral vector Brucella abortus vaccine induces a long-term protective immune response against Brucella abortus infection

This study analyzed the duration of the antigen-specific humoral and T-cell immune responses and protectiveness of a recently-developed influenza viral vector Brucella abortus (Flu-BA) vaccine expressing Brucella proteins Omp16 and L7/L12 and containing the adjuvant Montadine Gel01 in cattle. At 1 month post-booster vaccination (BV), both humoral (up to 3 months post-BV; GMT IgG ELISA titer 214±55 to 857±136, with a prevalence of IgG2a over IgG1 isotype antibodies) and T-cell immune responses were observed in vaccinated heifers (n=35) compared to control animals (n=35, injected with adjuvant/PBS only). A pronounced T-cell immune response was induced and maintained for 12 months post-BV, as indicated by the lymphocyte stimulation index (2.7±0.4 to 10.1±0.9 cpm) and production of IFN-γ (13.7±1.7 to 40.0±3.0 ng/ml) at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-BV. Prime-boost vaccination provided significant protection against B. abortus infection at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months (study duration) post-BV (7 heifers per time point; alpha=0.03-0.01 vs. control group). Between 57.1 and 71.4% of vaccinated animals showed no signs of B. abortus infection (or Brucella isolation) at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-BV; the severity of infection, as indicated by the index of infection (P=0.0003 to <0.0001) and rates of Brucella colonization (P=0.03 to <0.0001), was significantly lower for vaccinated diseased animals than appropriate control animals. Good protection from B. abortus infection was also observed among pregnant vaccinated heifers (alpha=0.03), as well as their fetuses and calves (alpha=0.01), for 12 months post-BV. Additionally, 71.4% of vaccinated heifers calved successfully whereas all pregnant control animals aborted (alpha=0.01). Prime-boost vaccination of cattle with Flu-BA induces an antigen-specific humoral and pronounced T cell immune response and most importantly provides good protectiveness, even in pregnant heifers, for at least 12 months post-BV.