The significance of naturally occurring neuraminidase quasispecies of H5N1 avian influenza virus on resistance to oseltamivir: a point of concern.

ABSTRACT: Viral adaptability and survival arise due to the presence of quasispecies populations that are able to escape the immune response or produce drug-resistant variants. However, the presence of H5N1 virus with natural mutations acquired without any drug selection pressure poses a great threat. Cloacal samples collected from the 2004-2005 epidemics in Thailand from Asian open-billed storks revealed one major and several minor quasispecies populations with mutations on the oseltamivir (OTV)-binding site of the neuraminidase gene (NA) without prior exposure to a drug. Therefore, this study investigated the binding between the NA-containing novel mutations and OTV drug using molecular dynamic simulations and plaque inhibition assay. The results revealed that the mutant populations, S236F mutant,

SUBMITTER: Schaduangrat N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5042091 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature