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Mammalian adaptation of influenza A(H7N9) virus is limited by a narrow genetic bottleneck

Author

Listed:
  • Hassan Zaraket

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
    Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut)

  • Tatiana Baranovich

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Bryan S. Kaplan

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Robert Carter

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Min-Suk Song

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
    Present address: College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, 52 Naesudong-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea)

  • James C. Paulson

    (The Scripps Research Institute)

  • Jerold E. Rehg

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Justin Bahl

    (School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston)

  • Jeri C. Crumpton

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Jon Seiler

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Michael Edmonson

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Gang Wu

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Erik Karlsson

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Thomas Fabrizio

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Huachen Zhu

    (Joint Influenza Research Center (Shantou University Medical College & Hong Kong University), Shantou University Medical College)

  • Yi Guan

    (Joint Influenza Research Center (Shantou University Medical College & Hong Kong University), Shantou University Medical College)

  • Matloob Husain

    (University of Otago)

  • Stacey Schultz-Cherry

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Scott Krauss

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Ryan McBride

    (The Scripps Research Institute)

  • Robert G. Webster

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Elena A. Govorkova

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Jinghui Zhang

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Charles J. Russell

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
    Immunology & Biochemistry, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

  • Richard J. Webby

    (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
    Immunology & Biochemistry, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 & Er, 2015. "Mammalian adaptation of influenza A(H7N9) virus is limited by a narrow genetic bottleneck," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7553
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7553
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