Single gene reassortants identify a critical role for PB1, HA, and NA in the high virulence of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus

Claudia Pappas, Patricia V. Aguilar, Christopher F. Basler, Alicia Solórzano, Hui Zeng, Lucy A. Perrone, Peter Palese, Adolfo García-Sastre, Jacqueline M. Katz, Terrence M. Tumpey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

The 1918 influenza pandemic was exceptionally severe, resulting in the death of up to 50 million people worldwide. Here, we show which virus genes contributed to the replication and virulence of the 1918 influenza virus. Recombinant viruses, in which genes of the 1918 virus were replaced with genes from a contemporary human H1N1 influenza virus, A/Texas/36/91 (Tx/91), were generated. The exchange of most 1918 influenza virus genes with seasonal influenza H1N1 virus genes did not alter the virulence of the 1918 virus; however, substitution of the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), or polymerase subunit PB1 genes significantly affected the ability of this virus to cause severe disease in mice. The 1918 virus virulence observed in mice correlated with the ability of 1918 recombinant viruses to replicate efficiently in human airway cells. In a second series of experiments, eight 1918 1:7 recombinants were generated, in which each Tx/91 virus gene was individually replaced by a corresponding gene from 1918 virus. Replication capacity of the individual 1:7 reassortant viruses was assessed in mouse lungs and human airway cells. Increased virus titers were observed among 1:7 viruses containing individual 1918 HA, NA, and PB1 genes. In addition, the 1918 PB1:Tx/91 (1:7) virus showed a distinctly larger plaque size phenotype than the small plaque phenotype of the 1918 PA:Tx/91 and 1918 PB2:Tx/91 1:7 reassortants. These results highlight the importance of the 1918 HA, NA, and PB1 genes for optimal virus replication and virulence of this pandemic strain.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3064-3069
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume105
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 26 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Human airway cells
  • Mice
  • Pathogenesis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Single gene reassortants identify a critical role for PB1, HA, and NA in the high virulence of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this