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One‐way trip: Influenza virus' adaptation to gallinaceous poultry may limit its pandemic potential
Author(s) -
Long Jason S.,
Benfield Camilla T.,
Barclay Wendy S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.201400133
Subject(s) - influenza a virus subtype h5n1 , neuraminidase , biology , virology , pandemic , virus , transmission (telecommunications) , transmission and infection of h5n1 , human influenza , h5n1 genetic structure , influenza a virus , avian influenza virus , covid-19 , medicine , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , electrical engineering , engineering
Summary We hypothesise that some influenza virus adaptations to poultry may explain why the barrier for human‐to‐human transmission is not easily overcome once the virus has crossed from wild birds to chickens. Since the cluster of human infections with H5N1 influenza in Hong Kong in 1997, chickens have been recognized as the major source of avian influenza virus infection in humans. Although often severe, these infections have been limited in their subsequent human‐to‐human transmission, and the feared H5N1 pandemic has not yet occurred. Here we examine virus adaptations selected for during replication in chickens and other gallinaceous poultry. These include altered receptor binding and increased pH of fusion of the haemagglutinin as well as stalk deletions of the neuraminidase protein. This knowledge could aid the delivery of vaccines and increase our ability to prioritize research efforts on those viruses from the diverse array of avian influenza viruses that have greatest human pandemic potential. Also watch the Video Abstract .