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Nat Commun
. 2024 Apr 25;15(1):3449.
doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-47635-4. Cross-species spill-over potential of the H9N2 bat influenza A virus
Rabeh El-Shesheny 1 , John Franks 2 , Ahmed Kandeil 1 2 , Rebecca Badra 3 , Jasmine Turner 2 , Patrick Seiler 2 , Bindumadhav M Marathe 2 , Trushar Jeevan 2 , Lisa Kercher 2 , Meng Hu 2 , Yul Eum Sim 4 , Kenrie P Y Hui 5 , Michael C W Chan 5 , Andrew J Thompson 6 , Pamela McKenzie 2 , Elena A Govorkova 2 , Charles J Russell 2 , Peter Vogel 2 , James C Paulson 6 , J S Malik Peiris 5 , Robert G Webster 2 , Mohamed A Ali 1 , Ghazi Kayali 7 , Richard J Webby 8
Affiliations
In 2017, a novel influenza A virus (IAV) was isolated from an Egyptian fruit bat. In contrast to other bat influenza viruses, the virus was related to avian A(H9N2) viruses and was probably the result of a bird-to-bat transmission event. To determine the cross-species spill-over potential, we biologically characterize features of A/bat/Egypt/381OP/2017(H9N2). The virus has a pH inactivation profile and neuraminidase activity similar to those of human-adapted IAVs. Despite the virus having an avian virus-like preference for α2,3 sialic acid receptors, it is unable to replicate in male mallard ducks; however, it readily infects ex-vivo human respiratory cell cultures and replicates in the lungs of female mice. A/bat/Egypt/381OP/2017 replicates in the upper respiratory tract of experimentally-infected male ferrets featuring direct-contact and airborne transmission. These data suggest that the bat A(H9N2) virus has features associated with increased risk to humans without a shift to a preference for α2,6 sialic acid receptors.
. 2024 Apr 25;15(1):3449.
doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-47635-4. Cross-species spill-over potential of the H9N2 bat influenza A virus
Rabeh El-Shesheny 1 , John Franks 2 , Ahmed Kandeil 1 2 , Rebecca Badra 3 , Jasmine Turner 2 , Patrick Seiler 2 , Bindumadhav M Marathe 2 , Trushar Jeevan 2 , Lisa Kercher 2 , Meng Hu 2 , Yul Eum Sim 4 , Kenrie P Y Hui 5 , Michael C W Chan 5 , Andrew J Thompson 6 , Pamela McKenzie 2 , Elena A Govorkova 2 , Charles J Russell 2 , Peter Vogel 2 , James C Paulson 6 , J S Malik Peiris 5 , Robert G Webster 2 , Mohamed A Ali 1 , Ghazi Kayali 7 , Richard J Webby 8
Affiliations
- PMID: 38664384
- DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47635-4
In 2017, a novel influenza A virus (IAV) was isolated from an Egyptian fruit bat. In contrast to other bat influenza viruses, the virus was related to avian A(H9N2) viruses and was probably the result of a bird-to-bat transmission event. To determine the cross-species spill-over potential, we biologically characterize features of A/bat/Egypt/381OP/2017(H9N2). The virus has a pH inactivation profile and neuraminidase activity similar to those of human-adapted IAVs. Despite the virus having an avian virus-like preference for α2,3 sialic acid receptors, it is unable to replicate in male mallard ducks; however, it readily infects ex-vivo human respiratory cell cultures and replicates in the lungs of female mice. A/bat/Egypt/381OP/2017 replicates in the upper respiratory tract of experimentally-infected male ferrets featuring direct-contact and airborne transmission. These data suggest that the bat A(H9N2) virus has features associated with increased risk to humans without a shift to a preference for α2,6 sialic acid receptors.