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Emerg Microbes Infect. 2018 Jul 19;7(1):132. doi: 10.1038/s41426-018-0130-1.
A novel European H5N8 influenza A virus has increased virulence in ducks but low zoonotic potential.
Grund C1, Hoffmann D2, Ulrich R3, Naguib M1, Schink?the J3, Hoffmann B1, Harder T1, Saenger S4, Zscheppang K5, T?nnies M6, Hippenstiel S5, Hocke A5, Wolff T4, Beer M7.
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Abstract
We investigated in a unique setup of animal models and a human lung explant culture biological properties, including zoonotic potential, of a representative 2016 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N8, clade 2.3.4.4 group B (H5N8B), that spread rapidly in a huge and ongoing outbreak series in Europe and caused high mortality in waterfowl and domestic birds. HPAIV H5N8B showed increased virulence with rapid onset of severe disease and mortality in Pekin ducks due to pronounced neuro- and hepatotropism. Cross-species infection was evaluated in mice, ferrets, and in a human lung explant culture model. While the H5N8B isolate was highly virulent for Balb/c mice, virulence and transmissibility were grossly reduced in ferrets, which was mirrored by marginal replication in human lung cultures infected ex vivo. Our data indicate that the 2016 HPAIV H5N8B is avian-adapted with augmented virulence for waterfowl, but has low zoonotic potential. The here tested combination of animal studies with the inoculation of human explants provides a promising future workflow to evaluate zoonotic potential, mammalian replication competence and avian virulence of HPAIV.
PMID: 30026505 PMCID: PMC6053424 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0130-1
Free PMC Article
A novel European H5N8 influenza A virus has increased virulence in ducks but low zoonotic potential.
Grund C1, Hoffmann D2, Ulrich R3, Naguib M1, Schink?the J3, Hoffmann B1, Harder T1, Saenger S4, Zscheppang K5, T?nnies M6, Hippenstiel S5, Hocke A5, Wolff T4, Beer M7.
Author information
Abstract
We investigated in a unique setup of animal models and a human lung explant culture biological properties, including zoonotic potential, of a representative 2016 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N8, clade 2.3.4.4 group B (H5N8B), that spread rapidly in a huge and ongoing outbreak series in Europe and caused high mortality in waterfowl and domestic birds. HPAIV H5N8B showed increased virulence with rapid onset of severe disease and mortality in Pekin ducks due to pronounced neuro- and hepatotropism. Cross-species infection was evaluated in mice, ferrets, and in a human lung explant culture model. While the H5N8B isolate was highly virulent for Balb/c mice, virulence and transmissibility were grossly reduced in ferrets, which was mirrored by marginal replication in human lung cultures infected ex vivo. Our data indicate that the 2016 HPAIV H5N8B is avian-adapted with augmented virulence for waterfowl, but has low zoonotic potential. The here tested combination of animal studies with the inoculation of human explants provides a promising future workflow to evaluate zoonotic potential, mammalian replication competence and avian virulence of HPAIV.
PMID: 30026505 PMCID: PMC6053424 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0130-1
Free PMC Article