TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular characterization of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses isolated in Sweden in 2006
AU - Kiss, István
AU - Gyarmati, Péter
AU - Zohari, Siamak
AU - Ramsay, Karin Wilbe
AU - Metreveli, Giorgi
AU - Weiss, Elisabeth
AU - Brytting, Maria
AU - Stivers, Marielle
AU - Lindström, Sofia
AU - Lundkvist, Ake
AU - Nemirov, Kirill
AU - Thorén, Peter
AU - Berg, Mikael
AU - Czifra, György
AU - Belák, Sándor
N1 - Funding Information:
Thanks are due to Elodie Ghedin and David Spiro for their help during the set-up of the amplification protocols and to Béla Lomniczi for his comments on the manuscript. This work was partly supported by the Swedish Emergency Management Agency, the EPIZONE project (Network of Excellence for Epizootic Disease Diagnosis and Control, FP6-2004-Food-3-A), the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas 221-2006-2169 and Formas 221-2007-935) projects, and the FLUTEST EU project (Contract No.: 044429). Elisabeth Weiss was supported by the Leonardo da Vinci Mobilität Programme.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Background. The analysis of the nonstructural (NS) gene of the highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIV) isolated in Sweden early 2006 indicated the co-circulation of two sub-lineages of these viruses at that time. In order to complete the information on their genetic features and relation to other HP H5N1 AIVs the seven additional genes of twelve Swedish isolates were amplified in full length, sequenced, and characterized. Results. The presence of two sub-lineages of HP H5N1 AIVs in Sweden in 2006 was further confirmed by the phylogenetic analysis of approximately the 95% of the genome of twelve isolates that were selected on the base of differences in geographic location, timing and animal species of origin. Ten of the analyzed viruses belonged to sub-clade 2.2.2. and grouped together with German and Danish isolates, while two 2.2.1. sub-clade viruses formed a cluster with isolates of Egyptian, Italian, Slovenian, and Nigerian origin. The revealed amino acid differences between the two sub-groups of Swedish viruses affected the predicted antigenicity of the surface glycoproteins, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase, rather than the nucleoprotein, polymerase basic protein 2, and polymerase acidic protein, the main targets of the cellular immune responses. The distinctive characteristics between members of the two subgroups were identified and described. Conclusion. The comprehensive genetic characterization of HP H5N1 AIVs isolated in Sweden during the spring of 2006 is reported. Our data support previous findings on the coincidental spread of multiple sub-lineage H5N1 HPAIVs via migrating aquatic birds to large distance from their origin. The detection of 2.2.1. sub-clade viruses in Sweden adds further data regarding their spread in the North of Europe in 2006. The close genetic relationship of Swedish isolates sub-clade 2.2.2. to the contemporary German and Danish isolates supports the proposition of the introduction and spread of a single variant of 2.2.2. sub-clade H5N1 avian influenza viruses in the Baltic region. The presented findings underline the importance of whole genome analysis.
AB - Background. The analysis of the nonstructural (NS) gene of the highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIV) isolated in Sweden early 2006 indicated the co-circulation of two sub-lineages of these viruses at that time. In order to complete the information on their genetic features and relation to other HP H5N1 AIVs the seven additional genes of twelve Swedish isolates were amplified in full length, sequenced, and characterized. Results. The presence of two sub-lineages of HP H5N1 AIVs in Sweden in 2006 was further confirmed by the phylogenetic analysis of approximately the 95% of the genome of twelve isolates that were selected on the base of differences in geographic location, timing and animal species of origin. Ten of the analyzed viruses belonged to sub-clade 2.2.2. and grouped together with German and Danish isolates, while two 2.2.1. sub-clade viruses formed a cluster with isolates of Egyptian, Italian, Slovenian, and Nigerian origin. The revealed amino acid differences between the two sub-groups of Swedish viruses affected the predicted antigenicity of the surface glycoproteins, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase, rather than the nucleoprotein, polymerase basic protein 2, and polymerase acidic protein, the main targets of the cellular immune responses. The distinctive characteristics between members of the two subgroups were identified and described. Conclusion. The comprehensive genetic characterization of HP H5N1 AIVs isolated in Sweden during the spring of 2006 is reported. Our data support previous findings on the coincidental spread of multiple sub-lineage H5N1 HPAIVs via migrating aquatic birds to large distance from their origin. The detection of 2.2.1. sub-clade viruses in Sweden adds further data regarding their spread in the North of Europe in 2006. The close genetic relationship of Swedish isolates sub-clade 2.2.2. to the contemporary German and Danish isolates supports the proposition of the introduction and spread of a single variant of 2.2.2. sub-clade H5N1 avian influenza viruses in the Baltic region. The presented findings underline the importance of whole genome analysis.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=54049093185&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/1743-422X-5-113
DO - 10.1186/1743-422X-5-113
M3 - Article
C2 - 18837987
AN - SCOPUS:54049093185
SN - 1743-422X
VL - 5
JO - Virology Journal
JF - Virology Journal
M1 - 113
ER -