title: Pathogenicity and transmission of a swine influenza A(H6N6) virus.
abstract: Subtype H6 influenza A viruses (IAVs) are commonly detected in wild birds and domestic poultry and can infect humans. In 2010, a H6N6 virus emerged in southern China, and since then, it has caused sporadic infections among swine. We show that this virus binds to α2,6-linked and α2,3-linked sialic acids. Mutations at residues 222 (alanine to valine) and 228 (glycine to serine) of the virus hemagglutinin (HA) affected its receptor-binding properties. Experiments showed that the virus has limited transmissibility between ferrets through direct contact or through inhalation of infectious aerosolized droplets. The internal genes of the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, which is prevalent in swine worldwide, increases the replication efficiency of H6N6 IAV in the lower respiratory tract of ferrets but not its transmissibility between ferrets. These findings suggest H6N6 swine IAV (SIV) currently poses a moderate risk to public health, but its evolution and spread should be closely monitored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: Hailiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: Minhui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510462, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Guihong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: Jianqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blackmon
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: Chun-Kai
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA.
authors.forename: Meng-Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Respiratory Viral Diseases, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA.
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooley
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Glycomics Center, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta 30322, GA, USA.
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510462, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cardona
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA.
authors.forename: George Peng
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Webby
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: Xiu-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011485:Protein Binding; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D053585:Virus Attachment
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D012794:Sialic Acids