title: Characterization of the reconstructed 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic virus.
abstract: The pandemic influenza virus of 1918-1919 killed an estimated 20 to 50 million people worldwide. With the recent availability of the complete 1918 influenza virus coding sequence, we used reverse genetics to generate an influenza virus bearing all eight gene segments of the pandemic virus to study the properties associated with its extraordinary virulence. In stark contrast to contemporary human influenza H1N1 viruses, the 1918 pandemic virus had the ability to replicate in the absence of trypsin, caused death in mice and embryonated chicken eggs, and displayed a high-growth phenotype in human bronchial epithelial cells. Moreover, the coordinated expression of the 1918 virus genes most certainly confers the unique high-virulence phenotype observed with this pandemic virus.
authors.affiliation: Influenza Branch, Mailstop G-16, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases (DVRD), National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. tft9@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Terrence M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Tumpey
authors.forename: Christopher F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Basler
authors.forename: Patricia V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solórzano
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Swayne
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Jeffery K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Taubenberger
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palese
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Sastre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000821:virology*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D014357:Trypsin / Q000378:metabolism; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D012367:RNA, Viral; D009439:Neuraminidase; D014357:Trypsin