Vet Microbiol . The matrix gene of pdm/09 H1N1 contributes to the pathogenicity and transmissibility of SIV in mammals

[tetano]

Vet Microbiol


. 2021 Mar 12;255:109039.
doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109039. Online ahead of print.
The matrix gene of pdm/09 H1N1 contributes to the pathogenicity and transmissibility of SIV in mammals


Junda Zhu ¹ , Zhimin Jiang ² , Jinhua Liu ³



Affiliations

• PMID: 33740730
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109039

Abstract

The H1N1 influenza virus of swine-origin was responsible for the H1N1 pandemic in 2009 (pdm/09 H1N1), where the virus was transmitted to humans and then spread between people, and its continued circulation has resulted in it becoming a seasonal human flu virus. Since 2016, the matrix (M) gene of pdm/09 H1N1 has been involved in the reassortment of swine influenza viruses (SIVs) in China and has gradually become a dominant genotype in pigs. However, whether M gene substitution will influence the fitness of emerging SIVs remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the biological characteristics of SIVs with the M gene from Eurasian avian-like (EA) SIV or pdm/09 H1N1 in mammals and found that SIVs containing the pdm/09-M gene exhibit stronger virulence in mice, more efficient respiratory droplet transmission between ferrets, and increased transcription of viral genes in A549 cells compared with those containing EA-M. We also determined the functional significance of the pdm/09-M gene in conferring an elevated release of progeny viruses comprised of largely filamentous virions rather than spherical virions. Our study suggests that pdm/09-M plays a crucial role in the genesis of emerging SIVs in terms of the potential prevalence in the population.

Keywords: M gene; Potential prevalence; Reassortment; SIV; pdm/09 H1N1.