Avian influenza A virus adaptation to the equine host and identification of host-specific markers.
Abstract: Avian influenza A viruses (IAVs) are able to overcome the interspecies barrier and adapt to the new non-avian host. The process of adaptation requires the adaptive changes of IAV genome resulting in amino acid substitutions. The aim of this work was the description of amino acid substitutions in avian influenza A viruses (IAVs) occurring during their adaptation to equine host. Today, viruses of the equine influenza H3N8 subtype, first isolated in 1963, represent a single genetic lineage of IAV causing a respiratory disease in horses. We compared the amino acid sequences of the conserved proteins PB2, PB1, PA, NP, M1, M2, NS1 and NEP of equine influenza H3N8 subtype IAV with sequences of avian viruses, both available in the NCBI's Influenza Virus Resource Database. The amino acid substitutions persisting in equine IAV isolates and occurring in avian IAV at f both hosts.
Publication Date: 2018-08-31 PubMed ID: 30160142DOI: 10.4149/av_2018_220Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research is about the evolution of avian influenza A viruses when the virus crosses over from birds to horses, identifying specific changes in the virus’s genetic makeup that occur during this adaptation process.
Objective of the Research
- The primary goal of this research was to describe and identify any changes, particularly amino acid substitutions, that occur within avian influenza A viruses when they adapt to a new, non-avian host – in this case, horses.
Background and Significance
- Avian influenza A virus can cross the barrier between species and infect other animals, necessitating genetic changes within the virus.
- Understanding this adaptation process is critical because it can potentially lead to new disease outbreaks in other species, including humans.
- Interestingly, the H3N8 subtype of equine influenza – first isolated in 1963 – represents a single genetic lineage of avian influenza A virus that has adapted to cause respiratory disease in horses.
Methods
- To ascertain the changes that occur in avian influenza A viruses when adapting to horses, the researchers compared the amino acid sequences of several conserved proteins in the virus obtained from both species.
- The team examined proteins PB2, PB1, PA, NP, M1, M2, NS1, and NEP of the H3N8 subtype in equine influenza and compared them with sequences of avian viruses, leveraging data available in the NCBI’s Influenza Virus Resource Database.
Main Findings
- The researchers found persistent amino acid substitutions in equine-infecting influenza A virus isolates, which also occurred in avian variants.
- These substitutions underline the virus’s adaptation to the horse host from its original avian host, with these changes marking the virus as equine-adapted.
- Therefore, these substitutions could serve as markers for interspecies transmission and adaptation, providing essential insights to understand and potentially mitigate future cross-species virus spread.
Cite This Article
APA
Mucha V, Hollý J, Varečková E, Kostolanský F.
(2018).
Avian influenza A virus adaptation to the equine host and identification of host-specific markers.
Acta Virol, 62(3), 266-276.
https://doi.org/10.4149/av_2018_220 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Adaptation, Physiological
- Amino Acid Substitution
- Animals
- Genetic Markers
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Humans
- Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / physiology
- Influenza, Human / virology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
- Species Specificity
- Viral Proteins / genetics
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Rademan R, Geldenhuys M, Markotter W. Detection and Characterization of an H9N2 Influenza A Virus in the Egyptian Rousette Bat in Limpopo, South Africa. Viruses 2023 Feb 10;15(2).
- Rather MA, Hassan A, Aman M, Gul I, Mir AH, Potdar V, Koul PA, Ahmad SM, Ganai NA, Shah RA, Chikan NA, Abdul-Careem MF, Shabir N. Molecular and ecological determinants of mammalian adaptability in avian influenza virus. Infection 2025 Oct;53(5):1575-1601.
- Gonzalez-Obando J, Zuluaga-Cabrera A, Moreno I, Úsuga J, Ciuderis K, Forero JE, Diaz A, Rojas-Arbeláez C, Hernández-Ortiz JP, Ruiz-Saenz J. First Molecular Detection and Epidemiological Analysis of Equine Influenza Virus in Two Regions of Colombia, 2020-2023. Viruses 2024 May 24;16(6).
- Kleij L, Bruder E, Raoux-Barbot D, Lejal N, Nevers Q, Deloizy C, Da Costa B, Legrand L, Barrey E, Chenal A, Pronost S, Delmas B, Dhorne-Pollet S. Genomic characterization of equine influenza A subtype H3N8 viruses by long read sequencing and functional analyses of the PB1-F2 virulence factor of A/equine/Paris/1/2018. Vet Res 2024 Mar 22;55(1):36.
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