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Biological features of novel avian influenza A (H7N9) virus
Jiangfang Zhou,
Dayan Wang,
Rongbao Gao,
Baihui Zhao,
Jingdong Song,
Xian Qi,
Yanjun Zhang,
Yonglin Shi,
Lei Yang,
Wenfei Zhu,
Tian Bai,
Kun Qin,
Yu Lan,
Shumei Zou,
Junfeng Guo,
Jie Dong,
Libo Dong,
Ye Zhang,
Hejiang Wei,
Xiaodan Li,
Jian Lu,
Liqi Liu,
Xiang Zhao,
Xiyan Li,
Weijuan Huang
et al.
Affiliations
Contributions
Corresponding author
Nature
(2013)
doi:10.1038/nature12379
Received
01 May 2013
Accepted
14 June 2013
Published online
03 July 2013
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Human infection associated with a novel reassortant avian influenza H7N9 virus has recently been identified in China1. A total of 132 confirmed cases and 39 deaths have been reported2. Most patients presented with severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome3, 4. Although the first epidemic has subsided, the presence of a natural reservoir and the disease severity highlight the need to evaluate its risk on human public health and to understand the possible pathogenesis mechanism. Here we show that the emerging H7N9 avian influenza virus poses a potentially high risk to humans. We discover that the H7N9 virus can bind to both avian-type (α2,3-linked sialic acid) and human-type (α2,6-linked sialic acid) receptors. It can invade epithelial cells in the human lower respiratory tract and type II pneumonocytes in alveoli, and replicated efficiently in ex vivo lung and trachea explant culture and several mammalian cell lines. In acute serum samples of H7N9-infected patients, increased levels of the chemokines and cytokines IP-10, MIG, MIP-1β, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-α were detected. We note that the human population is naive to the H7N9 virus, and current seasonal vaccination could not provide protection.
Jiangfang Zhou,
Dayan Wang,
Rongbao Gao,
Baihui Zhao,
Jingdong Song,
Xian Qi,
Yanjun Zhang,
Yonglin Shi,
Lei Yang,
Wenfei Zhu,
Tian Bai,
Kun Qin,
Yu Lan,
Shumei Zou,
Junfeng Guo,
Jie Dong,
Libo Dong,
Ye Zhang,
Hejiang Wei,
Xiaodan Li,
Jian Lu,
Liqi Liu,
Xiang Zhao,
Xiyan Li,
Weijuan Huang
et al.
Affiliations
Contributions
Corresponding author
Nature
(2013)
doi:10.1038/nature12379
Received
01 May 2013
Accepted
14 June 2013
Published online
03 July 2013
Article tools
Citation
Reprints
Rights & permissions
Article metrics
Human infection associated with a novel reassortant avian influenza H7N9 virus has recently been identified in China1. A total of 132 confirmed cases and 39 deaths have been reported2. Most patients presented with severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome3, 4. Although the first epidemic has subsided, the presence of a natural reservoir and the disease severity highlight the need to evaluate its risk on human public health and to understand the possible pathogenesis mechanism. Here we show that the emerging H7N9 avian influenza virus poses a potentially high risk to humans. We discover that the H7N9 virus can bind to both avian-type (α2,3-linked sialic acid) and human-type (α2,6-linked sialic acid) receptors. It can invade epithelial cells in the human lower respiratory tract and type II pneumonocytes in alveoli, and replicated efficiently in ex vivo lung and trachea explant culture and several mammalian cell lines. In acute serum samples of H7N9-infected patients, increased levels of the chemokines and cytokines IP-10, MIG, MIP-1β, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-α were detected. We note that the human population is naive to the H7N9 virus, and current seasonal vaccination could not provide protection.
