Changes in the hemagglutinin gene of the neurovirulent influenza virus strain A/NWS/33.
The neurovirulent strain of influenza A virus, A/NWS/33, is able to infect a large range of cell types, including mouse brain cells, which are not infected by its parent, A/WS/33. This seems to be largely due to the hemagglutinin of A/NWS/33. The complete nucleotide sequence of the HA genes of both strains has been determined and a comparison revealed a number of changes. Analysis showed that the virulence capabilities of the NWS HA involve at least three different mechanisms: (a) loss of a glycosylation site; (b) a change at the cleavage site; and (c) a substitution in HA2, which may increase the pH of fusion.
Ward
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Biomolecular Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
de Koning-Ward
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006031:Glycosylation; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
D004279:DNA, Viral; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins