Assessing potential pathogenicity of novel highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N6) viruses isolated from Mongolian wild duck feces using a mouse model

Bao Tuan Duong; Duc Duong Than; Ulaankhuu Ankhanbaatar; Delgerzul Gombo-Ochir; Gansukh Shura; Amartuvshin Tsolmon; Chris Ka Pun Mok; Ganzorig Basan; Seon Ju Yeo; Hyun Park

doi:10.1080/22221751.2022.2069515

Assessing potential pathogenicity of novel highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N6) viruses isolated from Mongolian wild duck feces using a mouse model

Emerg Microbes Infect. 2022 Dec;11(1):1425-1434. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2069515.

Affiliations

¹ Zoonosis Research Center, Department of Infection Biology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
² State Central Veterinary Laboratory, Zaisan, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
³ HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
⁴ Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Several novel highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAIVs) A(H5N6) viruses were reported in Mongolia in 2020, some of which included host-specific markers associated with mammalian infection. However, their pathogenicity has not yet been investigated. Here, we isolated and evaluate two novel genotypes of A(H5N6) subtype in Mongolia during 2018-2019 (A/wildDuck/MN/H5N6/2018-19). Their evolution pattern and molecular characteristics were evaluated using gene sequencing and their pathogenicity was determined using a mouse model. We also compared their antigenicity with previous H5 Clade 2.3.4.4 human isolates by cross-hemagglutination inhibition (HI). Our data suggests that A/wildDuck/MN/H5N6/2018-19 belongs to clade 2.3.4.4h, and maintains several residues associated with mammal adaptation. In addition, our evaluations revealed that their isolates are less virulent in mice than the previously identified H5 human isolates. However, their antigenicity is distinct from other HPAIVs H5 clade 2.3.4.4, thus supporting their continued evaluation as potential infection risks and the preparation of novel candidate vaccines for their neutralization.

Keywords: 2.3.4.4h; Avian influenza viruses; H5N6; Mongolia; hemagglutination inhibition.

MeSH terms

Animals
Chickens
Ducks
Feces
Influenza A virus* / genetics
Influenza in Birds*
Mammals
Phylogeny
Virulence

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Priority Research Centres Programme from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Education [NRF-2015R1A6A1A03032236] and the Bio and Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF), funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea (MSIT) [2018M3A9H4055194].