Genetic and biological characterization of avian influenza H5N1 viruses isolated from wild birds and poultry in Western Siberia

Arch Virol. 2010 Jul;155(7):1145-50. doi: 10.1007/s00705-010-0676-2. Epub 2010 Apr 30.

Abstract

Three viruses included in the study were isolated from dead birds (A/duck/Omsk/1822/2006, A/chicken/Reshoty/02/2006, and A/duck/Tuva/01/2006), whereas the virus A/common gull/Chany/P/2006 was isolated from an apparently healthy gull during outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Russia in 2006. The intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) of viruses A/duck/Omsk/1822/2006, A/chicken/Reshoty/02/2006, and A/duck/Tuva/01/2006 ranged from 2.7 to 3.0, while the virus A/common gull/Chany/P/2006 had a markedly lower IVPI of 1.7. The virus A/common gull/Chany/P/2006 had a unique pattern of six amino acid substitutions in the regions of viral proteins crucial for virulence of H5N1 viruses. We hypothesize that these substitutions may affect the pathogenicity of A/common gull/Chany/P/2006.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Birds
  • Chickens
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / classification
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / genetics*
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / pathogenicity
  • Influenza in Birds / epidemiology
  • Influenza in Birds / virology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Phylogeny
  • Siberia / epidemiology
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Viral Proteins