title: Pathogenesis and transmission of swine origin A(H3N2)v influenza viruses in ferrets.
abstract: Recent isolation of a novel swine-origin influenza A H3N2 variant virus [A(H3N2)v] from humans in the United States has raised concern over the pandemic potential of these viruses. Here, we analyzed the virulence, transmissibility, and receptor-binding preference of four A(H3N2)v influenza viruses isolated from humans in 2009, 2010, and 2011. High titers of infectious virus were detected in nasal turbinates and nasal wash samples of A(H3N2)v-inoculated ferrets. All four A(H3N2)v viruses possessed the capacity to spread efficiently between cohoused ferrets, and the 2010 and 2011 A(H3N2)v isolates transmitted efficiently to naïve ferrets by respiratory droplets. A dose-dependent glycan array analysis of A(H3N2)v showed a predominant binding to α2-6-sialylated glycans, similar to human-adapted influenza A viruses. We further tested the viral replication efficiency of A(H3N2)v viruses in a relevant cell line, Calu-3, derived from human bronchial epithelium. The A(H3N2)v viruses replicated in Calu-3 cells to significantly higher titers compared with five common seasonal H3N2 influenza viruses. These findings suggest that A(H3N2)v viruses have the capacity for efficient replication and transmission in mammals and underscore the need for continued public health surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Akila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jayaraman
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Belser
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Kortney M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gustin
authors.forename: Taronna R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Maines
authors.forename: Xiangjie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sasisekharan
authors.forename: Jaqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Terrence M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Tumpey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005289:Ferrets; D006801:Humans; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000378:metabolism*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000378:metabolism; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides