The evolutionary genetics and emergence of avian influenza viruses in wild birds.
We surveyed the genetic diversity among avian influenza virus (AIV) in wild birds, comprising 167 complete viral genomes from 14 bird species sampled in four locations across the United States. These isolates represented 29 type A influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtype combinations, with up to 26% of isolates showing evidence of mixed subtype infection. Through a phylogenetic analysis of the largest data set of AIV genomes compiled to date, we were able to document a remarkably high rate of genome reassortment, with no clear pattern of gene segment association and occasional inter-hemisphere gene segment migration and reassortment. From this, we propose that AIV in wild birds forms transient "genome constellations," continually reshuffled by reassortment, in contrast to the spread of a limited number of stable genome constellations that characterizes the evolution of mammalian-adapted influenza A viruses.
Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Vivien G
VG
Dugan
Rubing
R
Chen
David J
DJ
Spiro
Naomi
N
Sengamalay
Jennifer
J
Zaborsky
Elodie
E
Ghedin
Jacqueline
J
Nolting
David E
DE
Swayne
Jonathan A
JA
Runstadler
George M
GM
Happ
Dennis A
DA
Senne
Ruixue
R
Wang
Richard D
RD
Slemons
Edward C
EC
Holmes
Jeffery K
JK
Taubenberger
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010802:Phylogeny; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D014481:United States
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D009439:Neuraminidase