Antigenic variation among equine H 3 N 8 influenza virus hemagglutinins.
Abstract: To provide information on the antigenic variation of the hemagglutinins (HA) among equine H 3 influenza viruses, 26 strains isolated from horses in different areas in the world during the 1963-1996 period were analyzed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies recognizing at least 7 distinct epitopes on the H 3 HA molecule of the prototype strain A/equine/Miami/1/63 (H 3 N 8). The reactivity patterns of the virus strains with the panel indicate that antigenic drift of the HA has occurred with the year of isolation, but less extensively than that of human H 3 N 2 influenza virus isolates, and different antigenic variants co-circulate. To assess immunogenicity of the viruses, antisera from mice vaccinated with each of the 7 representative inactivated viruses were examined by neutralization and hemagglutination-inhibition tests. These results emphasize the importance of monitoring the antigenic drift in equine influenza virus strains and to introduce current isolates into vaccine. On the basis of the present results, equine influenza vaccine strain A/equine/Tokyo/2/71 (H 3 N 8) was replaced with A/equine/La Plata/1/93 (H 3 N 8) in 1996 in Japan. The present results of the antigenic analysis of the 26 strains supported the results of a phylogenetic analysis, that viruses belonging to each of the Eurasian and American equine influenza lineages have independently evolved. However, the current vaccine in Japan consists of two American H 3 N 8 strains; A/equine/Kentucky/1/81 and A/equine/La Plata/1/93. It is also therefore recommended that a representative Eurasian strain should be included as a replacement of A/equine/Kentucky/1/81.
Publication Date: 2001-03-30 PubMed ID: 11276582
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research examines the antigenic variation of hemagglutinins in equine H 3 N 8 influenza viruses, ascertaining that antigenic drift has occurred over the years of isolation and shows differing variants in the virus.
About the Study
- The researchers studied 26 strains of equine H 3 influenza viruses, which were isolated from various places in the world over the period from 1963 to 1996.
- The viruses were analyzed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies which recognize at least 7 distinct epitopes on the H 3 HA molecule of the prototype strain A/equine/Miami/1/63 (H 3 N 8).
- Epitopes are the parts of an antigen to which an immune system’s antibodies attach themselves.
Findings of the Research
- Through studies on the reactivity patterns of the virus strains with the panel, it was discovered that an ‘antigenic drift’ of the HA has occurred with the year of isolation. This means that the virus has gradually changed over time.
- However, the antigenic drift found in these strains was less extensive than that observed in human H 3 N 2 influenza virus isolates.
- The study noted that different antigenic variants of the virus co-exist.
Significance of the Study
- The research finds importance in the sphere of equine health and disease prevention as it provides insights on the antigenic drift in equine influenza virus strains and how current isolates should be introduced into vaccines.
- The research forms the basis of the decision taken in Japan in 1996 to replace the equine influenza vaccine strain A/equine/Tokyo/2/71 (H 3 N 8) with A/equine/La Plata/1/93 (H 3 N 8).
- This decision was also supported by the outcome of the antigenic analysis of the 26 strains and as well as a phylogenetic analysis, indicating that viruses belonging to each of the Eurasian and American equine influenza lineages have separately evolved.
- It is also recommended in the research that a representative Eurasian strain should be included in place of A/equine/Kentucky/1/81 in the current vaccine used in Japan, which presently consists of two American H 3 N 8 strains.
Cite This Article
APA
Ozaki H, Shimizu-Nei A, Sugita S, Sugiura T, Imagawa H, Kida H.
(2001).
Antigenic variation among equine H 3 N 8 influenza virus hemagglutinins.
Jpn J Vet Res, 48(4), 177-186.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Disease Control, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Antigenic Variation
- Chick Embryo
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Epitope Mapping / veterinary
- Hemagglutinins, Viral / immunology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Influenza A virus / classification
- Influenza A virus / immunology
- Models, Molecular
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Sugita S, Oki H, Hasegawa T, Ishida N. Estimation models for the morbidity of the horses infected with equine influenza virus.. J Equine Sci 2008;19(3):63-6.
- Wahlgren J. Influenza A viruses: an ecology review.. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2011;1.
- Lu Z, Chambers TM, Boliar S, Branscum AJ, Sturgill TL, Timoney PJ, Reedy SE, Tudor LR, Dubovi EJ, Vickers ML, Sells S, Balasuriya UB. Development and evaluation of one-step TaqMan real-time reverse transcription-PCR assays targeting nucleoprotein, matrix, and hemagglutinin genes of equine influenza virus.. J Clin Microbiol 2009 Dec;47(12):3907-13.
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