The role of PB1-F2 in adaptation of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus H7N7 in chickens
2024
Hohensee, Luise | Scheibner, David | Schäfer, Alexander | Shelton, Holly | Mettenleiter, Thomas C. | Breithaupt, Angele | Dorhoi, Anca | Abdelwhab, Elsayed M. | Blohm, Ulrike
Avian influenza viruses (AIV) of the H7N7 subtype are enzootic in the wild bird reservoir in Europe, cause infections in poultry, and have sporadically infected humans. The non-structural protein PB1-F2 is encoded in a second open frame in the polymerase segment PB1 and its sequence varies with the host of origin. While mammalian isolates predominantly carry truncated forms, avian isolates typically express full-length PB1-F2. PB1-F2 is a virulence factor of influenza viruses in mammals. It modulates the host immune response, causing immunopathology and increases pro-inflammatory responses. The role of full-length PB1-F2 in IAV pathogenesis as well as its impact on virus adaptation and virulence in poultry remains enigmatic. Here, we characterised recombinant high pathogenicity AIV (HPAIV) H7N7 expressing or lacking PB1-F2 in vitro and in vivo in chickens. In vitro, full-length PB1-F2 modulated viability of infected chicken fibroblasts by limiting apoptosis. In chickens, PB1-F2 promoted gastrointestinal tropism, as demonstrated by enhanced viral replication in the gut and increased cloacal shedding. PB1-F2’s effects on cellular immunity however were marginal. Overall, chickens infected with full-length PB1-F2 virus survived for shorter periods, indicating that PB1-F2 is also a virulence factor in bird-adapted viruses.
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Publisher BioMed Central ; (bis 2010: Paris : Ed.Scientifiques Elsevier)
ISSN 1297-9716 | 0928-4249This bibliographic record has been provided by Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut