Enhancement of reverse genetics-derived swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus seed vaccine growth by inclusion of indigenous polymerase PB1 protein.
The current pandemic of a novel swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus (S-OIV) highlighted the need to urgently develop vaccines that can be used in a rapid response against the pathogen. Reverse genetics has been employed as an alternative means for the generation of influenza seed vaccines. However, reassortant viruses containing 6 internal genes from A/PR/8/34 and the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes from S-OIV showed very slow growth characteristics, hampering the speed of vaccine production. Here, we showed that the reverse genetics-derived H1N1 could be rescued with sensible viral titer by replacing PB1 of A/PR/8/34 with that of S-OIV for plasmid transfection. The "5+3" reassortant viruses have shown higher growth rate after transfection compared to that of "6+2" reassortant. The difference between PB1 of S-OIV and that of A/PR/8/34 in terms of the enhancement of virus growth was possibly due to the augmentation of viral polymerase activity, but not the lack of functional PB1-F2. Furthermore, it was found that growth enhancement by PB1 was specific for reassortant harboring HA of S-OIV, suggesting that the slow growth property of S-OIV reassortant virus is possibly due to restrictions imposed by the HA gene.
Wanitchang
Asawin
A
Virology and Cell Technology Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
Kramyu
Jarin
J
Jongkaewwattana
Anan
A
D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000235:genetics*; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; C442816:PB1-F2 protein, Influenza A virus; D014764:Viral Proteins; C077346:influenza virus polymerase basic protein 1