title: A single amino acid at the hemagglutinin cleavage site contributes to the pathogenicity but not the transmission of Egyptian highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in chickens.
abstract: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus H5N1 has been enzootic in Egypt since 2008. Virus-associated mortality (but not the number of cases) in humans and poultry seems to have decreased over time, but the reason for this remains unknown. We investigated the role of a single amino acid substitution in the hemagglutinin cleavage site on virus pathogenicity and transmission in chickens. The R325G substitution significantly reduced pathogenicity without altering the transmission efficiency of HPAI H5N1 virus.
authors: Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
authors: Sun-Woo
authors: SW
authors: Yoon
authors: Ghazi
authors: G
authors: Kayali
authors: Mohamed A
authors: MA
authors: Ali
authors: Robert G
authors: RG
authors: Webster
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: Webby
authors: Mariette F
authors: MF
authors: Ducatez
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004534:Egypt; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D016019:Survival Analysis; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C109963:hemagglutinin, avian influenza A virus