Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus is associated mainly with the exposure to infected poultry. The factors that allow interspecies transmission but limit human-to-human transmission are unknown. Here we show that A/Anhui/1/2013(H7N9) influenza virus infection of chickens (natural hosts) is asymptomatic and that it generates a high genetic diversity. In contrast, diversity is tightly restricted in infected ferrets, limiting further adaptation to a fully transmissible form. Airborne transmission in ferrets is accompanied by the mutations in PB1, NP and NA genes that reduce viral polymerase and neuraminidase activity. Therefore, while A(H7N9) virus can infect mammals, further adaptation appears to incur a fitness cost. Our results reveal that a tight genetic bottleneck during avian-to-mammalian transmission is a limiting factor in A(H7N9) influenza virus adaptation to mammals. This previously unrecognized biological mechanism limiting species jumps provides a measure of adaptive potential and may serve as a risk assessment tool for pandemic preparedness.
Source: Nature Communications
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7553
Authors: Hassan Zaraket, Tatiana Baranovich, Bryan S. Kaplan, Robert Carter, Min-Suk Song, James C. Paulson, Jerold E. Rehg, Justin Bahl, Jeri C. Crumpton, Jon Seiler, Michael Edmonson, Gang Wu, Erik Karlsson, Thomas Fabrizio, Huachen Zhu, Yi Guan, Matloob Husain, Stacey Schultz-Cherry, Scott Krauss, Ryan McBride, Robert G. Webster, Elena A. Govorkova, Jinghui Zhang, Charles J. Russell, Richard J. Webby
Institutions: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, American University of Beirut, Chungbuk National University, Scripps Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Shantou University, Shantou University Medical College, University of Hong Kong, University of Otago, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
OpenAlex ID: W1989276269