title: Selection of H5N1 influenza virus PB2 during replication in humans.
abstract: Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses continue to cause concern, even though currently circulating strains are not efficiently transmitted among humans. For efficient transmission, amino acid changes in viral proteins may be required. Here, we examined the amino acids at positions 627 and 701 of the PB2 protein. A direct analysis of the viral RNAs of H5N1 viruses in patients revealed that these amino acids contribute to efficient virus propagation in the human upper respiratory tract. Viruses grown in culture or eggs did not always reflect those in patients. These results emphasize the importance of the direct analysis of original specimens.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Quynh Mai
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai-Tagawa
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozawa
authors.forename: Mustumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaoka
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: C057027:PB2 protein, Influenzavirus A; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase