title: Characterization of avian H9N2 influenza viruses from United Arab Emirates 2000 to 2003.
abstract: Our aim was to establish the phylogenetic relation of H9N2 avian viruses in the Middle East to other Asian H9N2 lineages by characterization of 7 viruses isolated from United Arab Emirates (2000-2003). All these viruses had an additional basic amino acid at the hemagglutinin-connecting peptide; 6 contained a mutation associated with increased affinity toward human-like sialic acid substrates. The viruses' surface glycoproteins and most internal genes were >90% similar to those of A/Quail/Hong Kong/G1/97 (H9N2) lineage. The hemadsorbing site of neuraminidase had up to 4 amino acid substitutions, as do human pandemic viruses. M2 sequence analysis revealed amino acid changes at 2 positions, with increasing resistance to amantadine in cell culture. They replicated efficiently in inoculated chickens and were successfully transmitted to contacts. They continue to maintain H5N1-like genes and may augment the spread of H5N1 viruses through regional co-circulation and inapparent infection. These viruses may present as potential pandemic candidates themselves.
authors.affiliation: Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale Street, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA. uzma.bashir@stjude.org
authors.forename: U B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Aamir
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wernery
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ilyushina
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000547:Amantadine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002645:Chickens; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics; D006382:Hemadsorption; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D009154:Mutation; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D011784:Quail; D017385:Sequence Homology; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014774:Virulence; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: D000547:Amantadine; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015686:Gene Products, env; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D009439:Neuraminidase; D012794:Sialic Acids; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C488937:M2 protein, Influenza A virus; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins; C109963:hemagglutinin, avian influenza A virus