Characterization In Vitro and In Vivo of a Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus from a Fatal Case

[tetano]

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e53515. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053515. Epub 2013 Jan 10.
Characterization In Vitro and In Vivo of a Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus from a Fatal Case.
Rodriguez A, Falcon A, Cuevas MT, Pozo F, Guerra S, García-Barreno B, Martinez-Orellana P, Pérez-Breña P, Montoya M, Melero JA, Pizarro M, Ortin J, Casas I, Nieto A.
Source

Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, C.S.I.C. Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain ; Ciber de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain.
Abstract

Pandemic 2009 H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza viruses caused mild symptoms in most infected patients. However, a greater rate of severe disease was observed in healthy young adults and children without co-morbid conditions. Here we tested whether influenza strains displaying differential virulence could be present among circulating pH1N1 viruses. The biological properties and the genotype of viruses isolated from a patient showing mild disease (M) or from a fatal case (F), both without known co-morbid conditions were compared in vitro and in vivo. The F virus presented faster growth kinetics and stronger induction of cytokines than M virus in human alveolar lung epithelial cells. In the murine model in vivo, the F virus showed a stronger morbidity and mortality than M virus. Remarkably, a higher proportion of mice presenting infectious virus in the hearts, was found in F virus-infected animals. Altogether, the data indicate that strains of pH1N1 virus with enhanced pathogenicity circulated during the 2009 pandemic. In addition, examination of chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) genotype, recently reported as involved in severe influenza virus disease, revealed that the F virus-infected patient was homozygous for the deleted form of CCR5 receptor (CCR5Δ32).

PMID:
23326447
[PubMed - in process]
PMCID:
PMC3542358

Free PMC Article

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23326447

 

[Emily]

Re: Characterization In Vitro and In Vivo of a Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus from a Fatal Case

I second the thumbs up. This seems like really useful research.

Also this is very interesting:

In addition, examination of chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) genotype, recently reported as involved in severe influenza virus disease, revealed that the F virus-infected patient was homozygous for the deleted form of CCR5 receptor (CCR5Δ32)

From the full text link:

Therefore the F patient was infected with a potential highly pathogenic virus and its genetic background of CCR5Δ32 homozygous could contribute to the severity of the infection.