Open AccessTriple reassortment increases compatibility among viral ribonucleoprotein genes of contemporary avian and human influenza A viruses
Author(s) -
Kaitlyn Waters,
Cheng Gao,
Matthew Ykema,
Lei Han,
Lynden S Voth,
Yizhi Jane Tao,
XiuFeng Wan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos pathogens
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.719
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1553-7374
pISSN - 1553-7366
DOI - 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009962
Subject(s) - reassortment , ribonucleoprotein , biology , virology , influenza a virus subtype h5n1 , enzootic , polymerase , viral replication , influenza a virus , nucleoprotein , gene , virus , genetics , rna , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty) , medicine , disease , pathology
Compatibility among the influenza A virus (IAV) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) genes affects viral replication efficiency and can limit the emergence of novel reassortants, including those with potential pandemic risks. In this study, we determined the polymerase activities of 2,451 RNP reassortants among three seasonal and eight enzootic IAVs by using a minigenome assay. Results showed that the 2009 H1N1 RNP are more compatible with the tested enzootic RNP than seasonal H3N2 RNP and that triple reassortment increased such compatibility. The RNP reassortants among 2009 H1N1, canine H3N8, and avian H4N6 IAVs had the highest polymerase activities. Residues in the RNA binding motifs and the contact regions among RNP proteins affected polymerase activities. Our data indicates that compatibility among seasonal and enzootic RNPs are selective, and enzoosis of multiple strains in the animal-human interface can facilitate emergence of an RNP with increased replication efficiency in mammals, including humans.