China ; epidemiology ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Influenza B virus ; genetics ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; genetics

In Taiwan, the first human-infecting H6N1 avian influenza virus was isolated in 2013. To better understand the origin, evolutionary relationship and pathogenesis of the H6N1 virus, we studied the adaptive evolution and evolutionary dynamics of the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the H6N1 virus in Taiwan. We felt that such studies woud contribute to the further study and control of the virus. Datasets were gained from the Flu and Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) databases. Then, phylogenetic trees and evolutionary dynamics were reconstructed. The evolutionary rate and characterization of adaptive evolution were analyzed by bioinformatic methods. Results indicated that the HA genes of H6N1 in Taiwan were divided into at least five types, and that the new types that the infected human H6N1 belonged to could be local advantage type at present. Evolutionary dynamics revealed the viral population expanded first at the end of 1971, reduced sharply in 2008, and then increased slightly. Three sites were identified under positive selection, suggesting that various sites might increase the adaptive ability of the virus. Eighty-nine sites were under negative selection, revealing that these sites might play an important role in the replication and epidemiology of the virus. Interestingly, site 329 upstream from the cleavage site was also under negative selection, suggesting that this site might be associated with the virulence of H6N1. These data suggest that the HA genes of the Taiwanese H6N1 virus have been undergoing adaptive evolution, and that an outbreak may occur again. Hence, more attention should be paid to the identified sites, to enable timely monitoring and control of a future epidemic.
Animals ; Birds ; Evolution, Molecular ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; Influenza in Birds ; virology ; Taiwan

OBJECTIVETo determine if global warming has an impact on the evolution of hemagglutinins from influenza A viruses, because both global warming and influenza pandemics/epidemics threaten the world.

METHODS4 706 hemagglutinins from influenza A viruses sampled from 1956 to 2009 were converted to a time-series to show their evolutionary process and compared with the global, northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere temperatures, to determine if their trends run in similar or opposite directions. Point-to-point comparisons between temperature and quantified hemagglutinins were performed for all species and for the major prevailing species.

RESULTSThe comparisons show that the trends for both hemagglutinin evolution and temperature change run in a similar direction.

CONCLUSIONGlobal warming has a consistent and progressive impact on the hemagglutinin evolution of influenza A viruses.

To understand the genetic characteristics of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) of type B influenza viruses in Guangzhou in 2006, three virus strains from etiology surveillance and seven strains from outbreaks were investigated. Genome RNAs of type B influenza viruses were extracted and reverse-transcripted into cDNAs using random primers. The whole-length DNA of HA and NA were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloned into T-A plasmid and sequenced, and analyzed phylogenetically by DNAstar software. The results showed that the HA of type B influenza viruses were similar and the homology were more than 99%. The type B influenza viruses belong to Victoria lineage. The NA of the type B influenza viruses were similar and the homology were more than 98%. Phylogenetic trees of HA and NA showed that the isolates from etiology surveillance formed a cluster, and the isolates from outbreaks were separated from the cluster. The homology of the type B influenza viruses with B/Shanghai/361/2002, which is the WHO recommended influenza vaccine strain in 2005-2006, were 88.9%-89.7%. It suggested the protective effect of influenza vaccine against type B influenza viruses used in 2005-2006 in Guangzhou may not be afforded.
China ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Influenza B virus ; genetics ; Neuraminidase ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Time Factors

To understand the evolutionary characterization of HA1 of H1N1 influenza virus HA gene circulaing from 1981 to 2005 in China, viral RNAs of 370 H1N1 strains were extracted and transcribed into cDNA by reverse transcriptase and amplified by PCR. The products of PCR were sequenced. The sequences were analyzed through biometic software. The results showed that all the four antigenic sites were mutated, bigger change occurred on the Sb and Ca sites; the 130 loop of receptor binding sites(RBS) of HA1 amino acid deleted at the 134th site in 1991 firstly, then the number of the deleted strains were increasing, since 2000, all the strains had deleted at the 134th site, and simultaneously, the amino acid at 137th site was substituted by S for T. The change of HA1 glycosylation sites was found and 7 sites kept stable from 2000 to 2005. The H1N1 strains of the same year almost clustered in the same group on the phylogenetic tree and were irrelevant to virus isolated time and area. There appeared two groups of 2005 H1N1 virus strains that differed in time of virus isolation.
China ; Genes, Viral ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Time Factors

To evaluate the immunogenicity of HA globular head domain of H5 subtype influenza virus (H5HA), the gene of H5HA was optimized and the recombinant pPICZaA-H5HA expressing vector was constructed and transfected into Pichia pastoris. The expression of the recombinant H5HA was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting and the results demonstrated that the recombinant H5HA (37 kDa) was highly expressed in Pichia pastoris with concentration of 0.2 mg/mL in medium. The recombinant H5HA was concentrated and purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The immunogenicity of H5HA was evaluated by immunizing eight groups of chicken through intranasal or intramuscular injection with different doses of purified H5HA combined with different adjuvants, respectively. The results showed that the recombinant H5HA could induce high level IgG (HI titer was 1:64 and neutralizing antibody titer was 1:218) and the optimal dosage of the recombinant H5HA was 50 μg combined with oil. In addition, intramuscular injection was better than nasal immunization. This study provided a theoretical support for subunit vaccine development.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; Birds ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza in Birds ; Pichia ; Vaccination

The conserved hemagglutinin (HA) stem region of avian influenza virus (AIV) is an important target for designing broad-spectrum vaccines, therapeutic antibodies and diagnostic reagents. Previously, we obtained a monoclonal antibody (mAb) (5D3-1B5) which was reactive with the HA stem epitope (aa 428-452) of H7N9 subtype AIV. To systematically characterize the mAb, we determined the antibody titers, including the HA-binding IgG, hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and virus neutralizing (VN) titers. In addition, the antigenic epitope recognized by the antibody as well as the sequence and structure of the antibody variable region (VR) were also determined. Moreover, we evaluated the cross-reactivity of the antibody with influenza virus strains of different subtypes. The results showed that the 5D3-1B5 antibody had undetectable HI and VN activities against H7N9 virus, whereas it exhibited strong reactivity with the HA protein. Using the peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and biopanning with a phage-displayed random peptide library, a motif with the core sequence (⁴³¹W-⁴³³Y-⁴³⁷L) in the C-helix domain in the HA stem was identified as the epitope recognized by 5D3-1B5. Moreover, the mAb failed to react with the mutant H7N9 virus which contains mutations in the epitope. The VR of the antibody was sequenced and the complementarity determining regions in the VR of the light and heavy chains were determined. Structural modeling and molecular docking analysis of the VR verified specific binding between the antibody and the C-helix domain of the HA stem. Notably, 5D3-1B5 showed a broad cross-reactivity with influenza virus strains of different subtypes belonging to groups 1 and 2. In conclusion, 5D3-1B5 antibody is a promising candidate in terms of the development of broad-spectrum virus diagnostic reagents and therapeutic antibodies. Our findings also provided new information for understanding the epitope characteristics of the HA protein of H7N9 subtype AIV.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antibodies, Viral ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/genetics* ; Hemagglutinins ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; Influenza in Birds ; Molecular Docking Simulation

The expression of the hemagglutinins of Avian influenza virus H5 H7and H9 subtypes was studied in this article by Pichia pastoris, one of the eukaryotis expression systems. Three reconstructed expression plasmids and engineering strains, named pPIC9K-H5HA, pPIC9K-H7HA, pPIC9K-H9HA and GS115/pPIC9K-H5HA, GS115/pPIC9K-H7HA, GS115/pPIC9K-H9HA repectively, were obtained. The reconstructed yeast engineering strains were identified by MD and MM plate selecting and PCR. The induced interests proteins were examined by SDS-PAGE and Western-bloting,the results showed that the interest genes were expressed exactly. And this will be helpful in the future study of antigen detection and antibody detection kit, as well in the subunit vaccines developing.
Animals ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype ; genetics ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism

Abstract: In order to investigate immune protection against swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) A H1N1, the helper-dependent adenovirus vector (HDAd) system was exploited to construct recombinant HDAd encoding hemagglutinin (HA). The HA gene was synthesized and cloned to the HDAd backbone. Then, the HDAd/HA DNA molecules were transfected into 293Cre4 cells with calcium phosphate. The cells were infected by helper virus 16 hours after the transfection. The 293Cre4 cells were coinfected with HDAd/HA and the helper virus for large-scale preparation of HDAd/HA. The HDAd/HA was obtained and purified twice with CsCI density ultracentrifugation and observed morphologically under transmission electron microscope, and the expression of HA protein was analyzed with RTPCR. Recombinant HDAd/HA expressing HA protein was successfully constructed which could pave the way for in vivo investigation on immunogenicity and efficacy against S-OIV A H1N1 infection.
Adenoviridae ; Cell Line ; Cloning, Molecular ; Genetic Vectors ; Helper Viruses ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype

Samples of chicken, duck, quail, and pigeon were collected from Jiangsu, Anhui, and Hebei in 2009-2011, and sixteen H9N2 subtype isolates of avian influenza virus (AIV) were identified. The eight full-length genes of 16 AIV isolates were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. Genome sequence analysis showed that the amino acid motif of cleavage sites in the HA gene was P-S-R/K-S-S-R, which was consistent with the characterization of the LPAIV, and the Leucine (L) at the amino acid position 226 in the HA genes of all isolates indicated the potential of binding with SAalpha, 2-6 receptor. All isolates had a S to N substitution at residue 31 in the M2 gene, which is related to the resistance phenotype of adamantanes. The key molecular features of 16 AIV isolates from different hosts were same. Genome phylogenetic analysis revealed that all 16 H9N2 subtype AIVs originated from F98-like virus as backbone and formed two new genotypes through reassortment with HA gene of Y280-like virus and PB2 and M genes of G1-like virus. Our findings suggest that more attention should be paid to the surveillance of H9N2 influenza virus and its direction of reassortment.
Genome, Viral ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; Neuraminidase ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA