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Pathogenesis and transmission of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in ferrets and mice.
- Source :
-
Nature [Nature] 2013 Sep 26; Vol. 501 (7468), pp. 556-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Jul 10. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- On 29 March 2013, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first reported case of human infection with an avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. The recent human infections with H7N9 virus, totalling over 130 cases with 39 fatalities to date, have been characterized by severe pulmonary disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This is concerning because H7 viruses have typically been associated with ocular disease in humans, rather than severe respiratory disease. This recent outbreak underscores the need to better understand the pathogenesis and transmission of these viruses in mammals. Here we assess the ability of A/Anhui/1/2013 and A/Shanghai/1/2013 (H7N9) viruses, isolated from fatal human cases, to cause disease in mice and ferrets and to transmit to naive animals. Both H7N9 viruses replicated to higher titre in human airway epithelial cells and in the respiratory tract of ferrets compared to a seasonal H3N2 virus. Moreover, the H7N9 viruses showed greater infectivity and lethality in mice compared to genetically related H7N9 and H9N2 viruses. The H7N9 viruses were readily transmitted to naive ferrets through direct contact but, unlike the seasonal H3N2 virus, did not transmit readily by respiratory droplets. The lack of efficient respiratory droplet transmission was corroborated by low receptor-binding specificity for human-like α2,6-linked sialosides. Our results indicate that H7N9 viruses have the capacity for efficient replication in mammals and human airway cells and highlight the need for continued public health surveillance of this emerging virus.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Cell Line
Cell Polarity
Disease Models, Animal
Epithelial Cells virology
Female
Humans
Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype growth & development
Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype pathogenicity
Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype growth & development
Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype pathogenicity
Influenza A virus growth & development
Influenza A virus isolation & purification
Influenza A virus metabolism
Influenza, Human virology
Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells
Male
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Polysaccharides chemistry
Polysaccharides metabolism
Receptors, Virus chemistry
Receptors, Virus metabolism
Respiratory System cytology
Substrate Specificity
Virus Replication physiology
Ferrets virology
Influenza A virus pathogenicity
Mice virology
Orthomyxoviridae Infections transmission
Orthomyxoviridae Infections virology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1476-4687
- Volume :
- 501
- Issue :
- 7468
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23842497
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12391