Equine influenza culture methods.
- Journal Article
Summary
The research article focuses on techniques used to culture equine influenza viruses. The study indicates that embryonated hen eggs or Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells are typically the hosts for the culture, with the eggs generally chosen over the MDCK cells due to less observed mutation during the process.
Equine Influenza Culture Methods
The study discusses different methods used for culturing equine influenza viruses. These viruses are grown in two types of environments:
- Embryonated hen eggs
- Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells
These methods are chosen as they parallel the techniques used for the cultivation of other influenza A viruses.
Mutation in Host Cells
During the culture process, mutations often occur when a virus adapts to its host environment. The research observes that this phenomenon occurs in both chosen environments – embryonated eggs and MDCK cells. However:
- MDCK cells show a greater level of mutation heterogeneity (variation in the changes).
- As a result of the lesser mutation occurrence, embryonated hen eggs are generally preferred for the cultivation of these viruses.
Replication Efficiency in Different Viruses
The research then goes further to differentiate between two types of equine influenza viruses – equine-1 H7N7 and equine-2 H3N8. Upon cultivation:
- Both viruses replicate efficiently in 11-day-old eggs.
- Equine-1 viruses, however, kill the embryos whereas equine-2 viruses do not, demonstrating a key difference in their behaviors within the host environment.
This research provides important insights into the methods used for culturing equine influenza viruses and the effects they have on different host cells. These findings are crucial for advancing our understanding of equine influenza and the techniques used to study this family of viruses.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, OIE Reference Laboratory for Equine Influenza, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, 1400 Nicholasville Road, Lexington, KY, 40546-0099, USA, tmcham1@uky.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chick Embryo
- Culture Techniques / methods
- Dogs
- Horses / virology
- Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / growth & development
- Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype / growth & development
- Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells
- Ovum / virology
Citations
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- Bloom DC, Tran RK, Feller J, Voellmy R. Immunization by Replication-Competent Controlled Herpesvirus Vectors. J Virol 2018 Aug 15;92(16).
- Yamanaka T, Nemoto M, Bannai H, Tsujimura K, Kondo T, Matsumura T, Gildea S, Cullinane A. Evaluation of twenty-two rapid antigen detection tests in the diagnosis of Equine Influenza caused by viruses of H3N8 subtype. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2016 Mar;10(2):127-33.
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- Mojsiejczuk L, Whitlock F, Chen H, Magill C, Aranday-Cortes E, Bone J, Tong L, Da Silva Filipe A, Bryant N, Newton JR, Chambers TM, Reedy SE, Nemoto M, Yamanaka T, Hughes J, Murcia PR. Multiple introductions of equine influenza virus into the United Kingdom resulted in widespread outbreaks and lineage replacement. PLoS Pathog 2025 Jun;21(6):e1013227.
- Vilaboa N, Bloom DC, Canty W, Voellmy R. A Broad Influenza Vaccine Based on a Heat-Activated, Tissue-Restricted Replication-Competent Herpesvirus. Vaccines (Basel) 2024 Jun 23;12(7).
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