Virus Res
. 2020 Oct 16;198186.
doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198186. Online ahead of print.
V292I Mutation in PB2 Polymerase Induces Increased Effects of E627K on Influenza H7N9 Virus Replication in Cells
Yuqing Zhou 1 , Xiaoxin Wu 1 , Danying Yan 1 , Can Chen 1 , Xiaoxiao Liu 1 , Chenyang Huang 1 , Xiaofang Fu 1 , Guo Tian 1 , Cheng Ding 1 , Jie Wu 1 , Jia Xu 1 , Lanjuan Li 2 , Shigui Yang 3
Affiliations
- PMID: 33075446
- DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198186
Abstract
Characterization of host adaptation markers among human isolates is important for recognizing the potential for cross-species transmission in avian influenza A viruses. Here, we studied two new potential adaptive mutations, V292I and D740A, in the PB2 protein that were identified by a multi-factor regression model. The study shows that the prevalence of the PB2-V292I mutation is increased in H7N9 influenza viruses isolated from both humans and birds over the past 6 years. The phylogenetic tree showed that influenza A/H7N9 has a lineage based on the strains containing PB2-292I. Polymerase complexes containing PB2-292I/627 K derived from H7N9 exhibit increased polymerase activity. PB2-292I coupled with 627 K also enhances viral transcription and replication in cells, whereas PB2-292I alone did not show the same effect in the H7N9 virus. However, PB2-740A only had a limited prevalence in 2013, and the change from D to A in PB2-740A may have a negative effect on the replication of the H7N9 virus in cells.
Keywords: Adaptive Mutation; H7N9; Influenza virus.