The H5N6 Virus Containing Internal Genes From H9N2 Exhibits Enhanced Pathogenicity and Transmissibility.

Publisher: Blackwell Verlag Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 101319538 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1865-1682 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 18651674 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Transbound Emerg Dis Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Berlin : Blackwell Verlag

Influenza in Birds*/virology ; Influenza in Birds*/transmission ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype*/genetics ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype*/pathogenicity ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections*/virology ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections*/transmission ; Influenza A virus*/pathogenicity ; Influenza A virus*/genetics; Animals ; Chickens ; Mice ; Humans ; Virulence ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Female ; Influenza A Virus, H5N6 Subtype

Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The H5N6 avian influenza virus (AIV) is constantly undergoing recombination and evolution with other subtypes of AIV, resulting in various types of recombinant H5N6 viruses. However, the risk to human public health of different recombinant types of H5N6 viruses remains unclear. Recently, two types of different recombinant H5N6 viruses were isolated from chickens. One of the viruses possessed six internal genes originating from H9N2, named A/Chicken/Hubei/112/2020 (H5N6) (abbreviated 112); the other virus possessed PB2, PB1, PA, and NP originating from H5N1, while the M and NS genes were derived from H9N2, named A/Chicken/Hubei/125/2020 (H5N6) (abbreviated 125). Here, we investigated the receptor binding properties, pathogenicity, and transmissibility of the two H5N6 AIVs. The results showed that 112 and 125 could bind α -2,3-linked sialic acid receptor (avian-like receptor) and α -2,6-linked sialic acid receptor (human-like receptor). However, 125 and 112 showed different pathogenicity in mice. Mice infected with 125 lost only a slight body weight and all survived, while mice infected with 112 lost weight rapidly and all died within a week of infection. Furthermore, in the transmission experiment, 125 could only transmit through direct contact, while 112 could transmit not only by direct contact but also by aerosol. The above results indicated that 112 exhibited enhanced pathogenicity and transmissibility compared to 125, suggesting that the H5N6 virus, whose internal genes were derived from H9N2, could pose a greater threat to human health. Therefore, continuous monitoring of different recombinant H5N6 viruses in poultry should be carried out to prevent their transmission to humans.
(Copyright © 2025 Manlin He et al. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

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Date Created: 20250430 Date Completed: 20250430 Latest Revision: 20250501

20250501

PMC12017012

10.1155/tbed/6252849

40302749