Avian flu: multiple introductions of H5N1 in Nigeria

As the avian influenza virus H5N1 swept from Asia across Russia to Europe, Nigeria was the first country in Africa to report the emergence of this highly pathogenic virus. Here we analyse H5N1 sequences in poultry from two different farms in Lagos state and find that three H5N1 lineages were independently introduced through routes that coincide with the flight paths of migratory birds, although independent trade imports cannot be excluded.     

H5N1亚型禽流感的研究

对发生在通辽地区的一起鸡的传染病进行了病原及其型的鉴定、流行病学调查、临床病理学研究，同时采取了综合性防制措施，结果为：该起鸡病为A型禽流感(Avian Influenza AI)H5N1亚型、为高致死性(HPAI)、极具传染性．临床病理学表现为急性热性出血性败血症、急性坏死性胰腺炎、非化脓性脑炎、卡他性上呼吸道炎、卡他性间质性肺炎及多个器官变质性坏死性炎．由于及时采取了隔离封锁，扑杀、消毒、无害化处理，疫情跟踪监测和免疫接种等有效的综合性防制措施，而使该传染病就地扑灭，疫情未造成扩散蔓延．     

Avian flu: influenza virus receptors in the human airway

Although more than 100 people have been infected by H5N1 influenza A viruses, human-to-human transmission is rare. What are the molecular barriers limiting human-to-human transmission? Here we demonstrate an anatomical difference in the distribution in the human airway of the different binding molecules preferred by the avian and human influenza viruses. The respective molecules are sialic acid linked to galactose by an alpha-2,3 linkage (SAalpha2,3Gal) and by an alpha-2,6 linkage (SAalpha2,6Gal). Our findings may provide a rational explanation for why H5N1 viruses at present rarely infect and spread between humans although they can replicate efficiently in the lungs.     

禽流感病毒H_5N_1动物致病模型的研究

1997年5月香港暴发H5N1高致病性禽流感,并首次出现高致病性禽流感感染人类并造成死亡,其中18人感染6人死亡。2003年2月底荷兰发生H7N7禽流感,感染人达80名,感染者出现结膜炎等症状,并有1例死亡。2003年12月10日韩国暴发了H5N1高致病性禽流感。随后在2003年12月至2004年2月期间,日本、印尼、老挝、巴基斯坦、     

China develops new diagnostic reagent to test for A/H1N1 flu virus in pigs

China developed a new diagnostic reagent to test for A/H1N1flu virus in pigs andthe new method could provide test results in five hours,the Ministry of Agriculture said Sunday.The ministry has organized experts soon after the outbreak of A/H1N1to     

H5N1型禽流感病毒HA基因在烟草中的表达

禽流感病毒H5N1是可以直接感染人类的甲型流感病毒,发展植物源口服疫苗是疫苗研究的方向之一.本研究通过农杆菌介导的方法将禽流感病毒H5N1的HA基因转化烟草.共获得38株潮霉素抗性植株,经PCR和Southern-blotting检测,目的基因已整合到转基因植株的基因组中.Western-dotting检测结果表明,目的基因在转基因烟草中得到表达,具有免疫原性,获得了能够表达HA基因的植物口服疫苗候选植株.     

H5N1亚型禽流感的诊断及临床病理学研究

对一起鸡传染病进行了病原鉴定并对其自然死亡的46例蛋鸡进行了临床病理学研究，结果表明，本起鸡病为A型禽流感，H5N1亚型，属高致死性(HPAI)；急性热性出血性败血症；急性坏死性胰腺炎；非化脓性脑炎；卡他性上呼吸道炎；卡他性、间质性肺炎。     

H5N1型禽流感病毒HA基因在烟草中的表达

禽流感病毒H5N1是可以直接感染人类的甲型流感病毒，发展植物源口服疫苗是疫苗研究的方向之一．本研究通过农杆菌介导的方法将禽流感病毒H5N1的HA基因转化烟草．共获得38株潮霉素抗性植株，经PCR和Southern-blotting检测，目的基因已整合到转基因植株的基因组中．Western-dotting检测结果表明，目的基因在转基因烟草中得到表达，具有免疫原性，获得了能够表达HA基因的植物口服疫苗候选植株．     

H5N1亚型禽流感病毒NS1基因的克隆及原核表达

克隆、表达和纯化禽流感病毒H5N1 NS1基因序列,为筛选与NS1相互作用的宿主蛋白以及深入研究NS1蛋白的功能打下基础.根据GenBank中收录的H5N1亚型禽流感病毒NS1基因序列,设计并合成一对特异性引物,利用RT-PCR方法扩增AIV NS1基因,将酶切处理后的基因片段定向克隆到原核表达载体pET-28a载体上,经酶切分析及序列测定正确后,鉴定出NS1基因的阳性重组子.阳性质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)感受态细胞,用1 mmol/L IPTG诱导表达,表达产物进行SDS-PAGE检测,获得预期蛋白的表达,通过Ni-NTA树脂蛋白纯化系统对NS1蛋白进行纯化.结果成功克隆H5N1亚型AIV的NSl基因,其核苷酸序列长度为678 bp,重组蛋白在大肠杆菌中可以高效表达,SDS-PAGE显示其相对分子质量与预计大小一致,表达产物在上清及包涵体中均有表达.经纯化,目的蛋白纯度高达90%,成功表达纯化出28KD的NS1融合蛋白并鉴定其免疫学活性.成功克隆和表达了禽流感病毒H5N1 NS1基因序列,为进一步研究NS1蛋白的生物学功能奠定了坚实基础.     

X-ray structure of NS1 from a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus

The recent emergence of highly pathogenic avian (H5N1) influenza viruses, their epizootic and panzootic nature, and their association with lethal human infections have raised significant global health concerns. Several studies have underlined the importance of non-structural protein NS1 in the increased pathogenicity and virulence of these strains. NS1, which consists of two domains-a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) binding domain and the effector domain, separated through a linker-is an antagonist of antiviral type-I interferon response in the host. Here we report the X-ray structure of the full-length NS1 from an H5N1 strain (A/Vietnam/1203/2004) that was associated with 60% of human deaths in an outbreak in Vietnam. Compared to the individually determined structures of the RNA binding domain and the effector domain from non-H5N1 strains, the RNA binding domain within H5N1 NS1 exhibits modest structural changes, while the H5N1 effector domain shows significant alteration, particularly in the dimeric interface. Although both domains in the full-length NS1 individually participate in dimeric interactions, an unexpected finding is that these interactions result in the formation of a chain of NS1 molecules instead of distinct dimeric units. Three such chains in the crystal interact with one another extensively to form a tubular organization of similar dimensions to that observed in the cryo-electron microscopy images of NS1 in the presence of dsRNA. The tubular oligomeric organization of NS1, in which residues implicated in dsRNA binding face a 20-A-wide central tunnel, provides a plausible mechanism for how NS1 sequesters varying lengths of dsRNA, to counter cellular antiviral dsRNA response pathways, while simultaneously interacting with other cellular ligands during an infection.     

Experimental adaptation of an influenza H5 HA confers respiratory droplet transmission to a reassortant H5 HA/H1N1 virus in ferrets

Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza A viruses occasionally infect humans, but currently do not transmit efficiently among humans. The viral haemagglutinin (HA) protein is a known host-range determinant as it mediates virus binding to host-specific cellular receptors. Here we assess the molecular changes in HA that would allow a virus possessing subtype H5 HA to be transmissible among mammals. We identified a reassortant H5 HA/H1N1 virus-comprising H5 HA (from an H5N1 virus) with four mutations and the remaining seven gene segments from a 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus-that was capable of droplet transmission in a ferret model. The transmissible H5 reassortant virus preferentially recognized human-type receptors, replicated efficiently in ferrets, caused lung lesions and weight loss, but was not highly pathogenic and did not cause mortality. These results indicate that H5 HA can convert to an HA that supports efficient viral transmission in mammals; however, we do not know whether the four mutations in the H5 HA identified here would render a wholly avian H5N1 virus transmissible. The genetic origin of the remaining seven viral gene segments may also critically contribute to transmissibility in mammals. Nevertheless, as H5N1 viruses continue to evolve and infect humans, receptor-binding variants of H5N1 viruses with pandemic potential, including avian-human reassortant viruses as tested here, may emerge. Our findings emphasize the need to prepare for potential pandemics caused by influenza viruses possessing H5 HA, and will help individuals conducting surveillance in regions with circulating H5N1 viruses to recognize key residues that predict the pandemic potential of isolates, which will inform the development, production and distribution of effective countermeasures.     

高致病性禽流感病毒广谱嵌合抗体的构建表达及活性研究

高致病性禽流感病毒高度变异且缺乏有效的治疗药物.在前期研究工作中,本课题组发现一株鼠源广谱中和单抗13D4,在动物实验中显示出对H5N1禽流感病毒具有广谱治疗效果.在本研究中,从分泌13D4单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株中抽提总RNA,经RT-PCR扩增出轻重链可变区DNA序列,并分别与人IgG1的轻重链恒定区基因序列拼接,构建人-鼠嵌合抗体.筛选出稳定表达嵌合抗体的CHO细胞株,从培养上清中纯化出嵌合抗体.竞争Elisa结果表明,嵌合抗体与鼠源单抗能够识别同一个抗原表位并具有相似的亲和力.血凝抑制反应和中和活性测定结果证明,13D4嵌合抗体保留了对不同亚型H5N1病毒的广谱反应性,并且对两株H5N1病毒具有中和活性.本研究获得的13D4嵌合抗体将具有潜在的治疗价值.     

H5N1亚型禽流感病毒血凝素基因的克隆与表达

 根据已知H5N1亚型禽流感病毒血凝素(HA)基因序列设计、合成克隆引物.自灭活的云南地方H5N1亚型病毒阳性临床组织样品中提取总RNA,反转录后采用高可信度DNA聚合酶(Pyobest^TMDNA Polymerase)扩增HA基因,采用Invitrogen定向表达系统(Champion^TMpET directional TOPO expression system)进行克隆表达,纯化获得N末端携带多聚组氨酸标签的重组HA,分子质量约78ku.采用阳性血清经免疫印迹及ELISA分析重组HA的免疫反应性,结果表明重组HA能与H5N1亚型病毒抗血清发生特异性结合,具有良好的免疫反应性.