title: Genetics, receptor binding property, and transmissibility in mammals of naturally isolated H9N2 Avian Influenza viruses.
abstract: H9N2 subtype influenza viruses have been detected in different species of wild birds and domestic poultry in many countries for several decades. Because these viruses are of low pathogenicity in poultry, their eradication is not a priority for animal disease control in many countries, which has allowed them to continue to evolve and spread. Here, we characterized the genetic variation, receptor-binding specificity, replication capability, and transmission in mammals of a series of H9N2 influenza viruses that were detected in live poultry markets in southern China between 2009 and 2013. Thirty-five viruses represented 17 genotypes on the basis of genomic diversity, and one specific "internal-gene-combination" predominated among the H9N2 viruses. This gene combination was also present in the H7N9 and H10N8 viruses that have infected humans in China. All of the 35 viruses preferentially bound to the human-like receptor, although two also retained the ability to bind to the avian-like receptor. Six of nine viruses tested were transmissible in ferrets by respiratory droplet; two were highly transmissible. Some H9N2 viruses readily acquired the 627K or 701N mutation in their PB2 gene upon infection of ferrets, further enhancing their virulence and transmission in mammals. Our study indicates that the widespread dissemination of H9N2 viruses poses a threat to human health not only because of the potential of these viruses to cause an influenza pandemic, but also because they can function as "vehicles" to deliver different subtypes of influenza viruses from avian species to humans.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xuyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guohua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qianyi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jinliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xijun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Avian Disease Surveillance, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kaicheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Avian Disease Surveillance, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Huiui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chunyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuantao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaoka
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yongping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guobin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yanbing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhigao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hualan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens; D002681:China; D004285:Dogs; D005289:Ferrets; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology