Molecular characterization of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses isolated in Sweden in 2006.
BACKGROUND
The analysis of the nonstructural (NS) gene of the highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIV) isolated in Sweden early 2006 indicated the co-circulation of two sub-lineages of these viruses at that time. In order to complete the information on their genetic features and relation to other HP H5N1 AIVs the seven additional genes of twelve Swedish isolates were amplified in full length, sequenced, and characterized.


RESULTS
The presence of two sub-lineages of HP H5N1 AIVs in Sweden in 2006 was further confirmed by the phylogenetic analysis of approximately the 95% of the genome of twelve isolates that were selected on the base of differences in geographic location, timing and animal species of origin. Ten of the analyzed viruses belonged to sub-clade 2.2.2. and grouped together with German and Danish isolates, while two 2.2.1. sub-clade viruses formed a cluster with isolates of Egyptian, Italian, Slovenian, and Nigerian origin. The revealed amino acid differences between the two sub-groups of Swedish viruses affected the predicted antigenicity of the surface glycoproteins, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase, rather than the nucleoprotein, polymerase basic protein 2, and polymerase acidic protein, the main targets of the cellular immune responses. The distinctive characteristics between members of the two subgroups were identified and described.


CONCLUSIONS
The comprehensive genetic characterization of HP H5N1 AIVs isolated in Sweden during the spring of 2006 is reported. Our data support previous findings on the coincidental spread of multiple sub-lineage H5N1 HPAIVs via migrating aquatic birds to large distance from their origin. The detection of 2.2.1. sub-clade viruses in Sweden adds further data regarding their spread in the North of Europe in 2006. The close genetic relationship of Swedish isolates sub-clade 2.2.2. to the contemporary German and Danish isolates supports the proposition of the introduction and spread of a single variant of 2.2.2. sub-clade H5N1 avian influenza viruses in the Baltic region. The presented findings underline the importance of whole genome analysis.
Kiss
István
I
Joint Research and Development Division in Virology of the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), and Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Uppsala, Sweden. istvan.kiss@sva.se
Gyarmati
Péter
P
Zohari
Siamak
S
Ramsay
Karin Wilbe
KW
Metreveli
Giorgi
G
Weiss
Elisabeth
E
Brytting
Maria
M
Stivers
Marielle
M
Lindström
Sofia
S
Lundkvist
Ake
A
Nemirov
Kirill
K
Thorén
Peter
P
Berg
Mikael
M
Czifra
György
G
Belák
Sándor
S
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D016679:Genome, Viral; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D012367:RNA, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins