Search

We investigated the in vitro role of mitochondrial antiviral signaling adaptor (MAVS) in apoptosis induced by H3N2 swine influenza virus infection and the influence of viral NS1 (nonstructural protein 1) protein on this process. H3N2 swine influenza virus (SIV, A/Swine/Shandong/3/2005) was co-cultured with human lung epithelial A549 cells. The relationship of MAVS expression to SIV replication and apoptosis, and the influence of viral proteins on MAVS functions were studied. The data indicate that in response to SIV infection, MAVS was significantly upregulated at both the transcriptional and protein levels in the early stages of infection. Its expression and localization to mitochondria are necessary for apoptosis of epithelial cells induced by H3N2 swine influenza virus. Viral protein NS1 can antagonize MAVS-mediated apoptosis. These findings indicate that MAVS have a role in regulating innate mitochondrial responses to viral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human A/Port Chalmers/1/73 (H3N2) influenza virus strain, the supposed ancestor of European H3N2 swine influenza viruses (SIVs), was used in most commercial SIV vaccines in Europe until recently. If manufacturers want to update vaccine strains, they have to perform laborious intratracheal (IT) challenge experiments and demonstrate reduced virus titres in the lungs of vaccinated pigs. We aimed to examine (a) the ability of a Port Chalmers/73-based commercial vaccine to induce cross-protection against a contemporary European H3N2 SIV and serologic cross-reaction against H3N2 SIVs from Europe and North America and (b) the validity of intranasal (IN) challenge and virus titrations of nasal swabs as alternatives for IT challenge and titrations of lung tissue in vaccine potency tests. Pigs were vaccinated with Suvaxyn Flu ® and challenged by the IT or IN route with sw/Gent/172/08. Post-vaccination sera were examined in haemagglutination-inhibition assays against vaccine and challenge strains and additional H3N2 SIVs from Europe and North America, including an H3N2 variant virus. Tissues of the respiratory tract and nasal swabs were collected 3 days post challenge (DPCh) and from 0–7 DPCh, respectively, and examined by virus titration. Two vaccinations consistently induced cross-reactive antibodies against European H3N2 SIVs from 1998–2012, but minimal or undetectable antibody titres against North American viruses. Challenge virus titres in the lungs, trachea and nasal mucosa of the vaccinated pigs were significantly reduced after both IT and IN challenge. Yet the reduction of virus titres and nasal shedding was greater after IT challenge. The Port Chalmers/73-based vaccine still offered protection against a European H3N2 SIV isolated 35 years later and with only 86.9% amino acid homology in its HA1, but it is unlikely to protect against H3N2 SIVs that are endemic in North America. We use our data to reflect on vaccine strain updates and on the vaccine potency test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background H3 N2 influenza viruses circulating in humans and European pigs originate from the pandemic A/ Hong Kong/68 virus. Because of slower antigenic drift in swine, the antigenic divergence between swine and human viruses has been increasing. It remains unknown to what extent this results in a reduced cross-protection between recent human and swine H3 N2 influenza viruses. Objectives We examined whether prior infection of pigs with an old [ A/ Victoria/3/75 ( A/ Vic/75)] or a more recent [ A/ Wisconsin/67/05 ( A/ Wis/05)] human H3 N2 virus protected against a European swine H3 N2 virus [sw/ Gent/172/08 (sw/ Gent/08)]. Genetic and antigenic relationships between sw/ Gent/08 and a selection of human H3 N2 viruses were also assessed. Results After challenge with sw/ Gent/08, all challenge controls had high virus titers in the entire respiratory tract at 3 days post-challenge and nasal virus excretion for 5-6 days. Prior infection with sw/ Gent/08 or A/ Vic/75 offered complete virological protection against challenge. Pigs previously inoculated with A/ Wis/05 showed similar virus titers in the respiratory tract as challenge controls, but the mean duration of nasal shedding was 1·3 days shorter. Unlike sw/ Gent/08- and A/ Vic/75-inoculated pigs, A/ Wis/05-inoculated pigs lacked cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against sw/ Gent/08 before challenge, but they showed a more rapid antibody response to sw/ Gent/08 than challenge controls after challenge. Cross-protection and serological responses correlated with genetic and antigenic differences. Conclusions Infection immunity to a recent human H3 N2 virus confers minimal cross-protection against a European swine H3 N2 virus. We discuss our findings with regard to the recent zoonotic infections of humans in the United States with a swine-origin H3 N2 variant virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Swine influenza viruses (SIV) are zoonotic pathogens that pose a potential threat to human health. In this study, we analyzed the differential mitochondrial proteomes of H3N2 SIV-infected human lung A549 cells using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) analysis. In the comparative analysis, 24 altered proteins (13 upregulated and 11 downregulated) were identified in the mitochondria of H3N2 SIV-infected cells; these proteins were involved in cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, cellular movement, and post-translational modification. Moreover, the transcriptional profiles of 16 genes corresponding to the identified proteins were estimated by real time RT-PCR. IPA analysis suggested that the differentially expressed proteins were clustered primarily into the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and d-glucose signaling pathways. In addition, oxidative phosphorylation and integrin signaling appeared to be major pathways modulated in the mitochondria of infected cells. We further demonstrated that apolipoprotein L2 was upregulated in the cytoplasm and translocated to mitochondria during virus infection. These results were verified by Western blot analysis coupled with confocal microscopy. Collectively, the mitochondrial proteome data provide insights to further understand the underlying mechanisms of H3N2 SIV cross-species infection. Biological significance: In recent years, proteomics has emerged as an indispensable tool to unveil the complex molecular events in virology. we firstly perform mitochondrial proteomic profiles of human cells infected with H3N2 subtype SIV to understand virus–host interactions, and 24 differentially expressed proteins in mitochondrial proteomes were identified in SIV-infected cells. The proteins that were identified to have differential expression were involved in cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, post-translational modification, cell morphology, cellular assembly, cell death, and energy production. Furthermore, Western blot analysis and a confocal assay further demonstrated that the cellular protein APOL2 partially co-localized with mitochondria after virus infection. This is a very important discovery in the underlying replication and pathogenesis of SIV which provides a potential target clue for the design of anti-SIV drugs. Our results will inspire basic study on SIV infection and drive the understanding for replication and pathogenesis of SIV to control this disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reassortant H1 swine influenza viruses (SIVs) carrying 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus (pH1N1) genes have been isolated from pigs worldwide. Seven novel reassortant H3N2 SIVs were identified from diseased pigs in the USA from winter 2010 to spring 2011. These novel viruses contain three or five internal genes from pH1N1 and continue to circulate in swine herds. The emergence of novel reassortant H3N2 SIVs demonstrates reassortment between pH1N1 and endemic SIVs in pigs and justifies continuous surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]