PNAS: Molecular basis of mammalian transmissibility of avian H1N1 influenza viruses and their pandemic potential

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[h=1]Molecular basis of mammalian transmissibility of avian H1N1 influenza viruses and their pandemic potential[/h]

• Mark Zanin[SUP]a[/SUP],
• Sook-San Wong[SUP]a[/SUP],
• Subrata Barman[SUP]a[/SUP],
• Challika Kaewborisuth[SUP]a[/SUP],[SUP]1[/SUP],
• Peter Vogel[SUP]b[/SUP],
• Adam Rubrum[SUP]a[/SUP],
• Daniel Darnell[SUP]a[/SUP],
• Atanaska Marinova-Petkova[SUP]a[/SUP],[SUP]2[/SUP],
• Scott Krauss[SUP]a[/SUP],
• Richard J. Webby[SUP]a[/SUP], and
• Robert G. Webster[SUP]a[/SUP],[SUP]3[/SUP]

[h=2]Significance[/h] Airborne transmission of influenza A viruses between mammals is not well understood. Our study of a group of similar subtype H1N1 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) isolated at Delaware Bay, USA, revealed genetic markers for airborne transmission in nonstructural genes. Viruses not containing all markers lacked airborne transmissibility in the ferret model. We revealed a role for Nonstructural Protein 1 (NS1) in facilitating airborne transmission that was associated with viral replication in the upper respiratory tract (URT). Non?airborne-transmissible NS1 mutants showed delayed viral maturation, resulting in limited tissue pathology and little virus at the mucosa. Overall, our study has revealed insights into viral replication in the URT associated with the airborne transmissibility of AIVs in mammals.


http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2017/08/30/1713974114.abstract