Multiple Natural Substitutions in Avian Influenza A Virus PB2 Facilitate Efficient Replication in Human Cells

• Published in: Journal of virology Vol. 90; no. 13; pp. 5928 - 5938
• Main Authors: Mänz, Benjamin, de Graaf, Miranda, Mögling, Ramona, Richard, Mathilde, Bestebroer, Theo M., Rimmelzwaan, Guus F., Fouchier, Ron A. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 01.07.2016
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Amino Acid Substitution; Animals; Birds; Cell Line; Computational Biology; HEK293 Cells; Host Specificity; Humans; Influenza A virus; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - enzymology; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - genetics; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - physiology; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype - enzymology; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype - genetics; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype - physiology; Influenza in Birds - virology; Influenza, Human - virology; Phylogeny; RNA Replicase - chemistry; RNA Replicase - genetics; RNA Replicase - metabolism; Viral Proteins - chemistry; Viral Proteins - genetics; Viral Proteins - metabolism; Virus Replication; Virus-Cell Interactions
• ISSN: 0022-538X; 1098-5514
• DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00130-16

A strong restriction of the avian influenza A virus polymerase in mammalian cells generally limits viral host-range switching. Although substitutions like E627K in the PB2 polymerase subunit can facilitate polymerase activity to allow replication in mammals, many human H5N1 and H7N9 viruses lack thi...