title: Virulence-associated substitution D222G in the hemagglutinin of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus affects receptor binding.
abstract: The clinical impact of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus (pdmH1N1) has been relatively low. However, amino acid substitution D222G in the hemagglutinin of pdmH1N1 has been associated with cases of severe disease and fatalities. D222G was introduced in a prototype pdmH1N1 by reverse genetics, and the effect on virus receptor binding, replication, antigenic properties, and pathogenesis and transmission in animal models was investigated. pdmH1N1 with D222G caused ocular disease in mice without further indications of enhanced virulence in mice and ferrets. pdmH1N1 with D222G retained transmissibility via aerosols or respiratory droplets in ferrets and guinea pigs. The virus displayed changes in attachment to human respiratory tissues in vitro, in particular increased binding to macrophages and type II pneumocytes in the alveoli and to tracheal and bronchial submucosal glands. Virus attachment studies further indicated that pdmH1N1 with D222G acquired dual receptor specificity for complex α2,3- and α2,6-linked sialic acids. Molecular dynamics modeling of the hemagglutinin structure provided an explanation for the retention of α2,6 binding. Altered receptor specificity of the virus with D222G thus affected interaction with cells of the human lower respiratory tract, possibly explaining the observed association with enhanced disease in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Salin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chutinimitkul
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herfst
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.forename: Anice C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lowen
authors.forename: Jianqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Debby
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Riel
authors.forename: Eefje J A
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Schrauwen
authors.forename: Theo M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Bestebroer
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koel
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Kyle H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Sutherland-Cash
authors.forename: Chris S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Whittleston
authors.forename: Colin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wales
authors.forename: Derek J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jonges
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.forename: Guus F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Rimmelzwaan
authors.forename: Thijs
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuiken
authors.forename: Albert D M E
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Osterhaus
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Sastre
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Ron A M
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fouchier
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008958:Models, Molecular; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D058873:Pandemics; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014422:Turkeys; D014774:Virulence; D053585:Virus Attachment
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid