Opposite Outcomes of the Within-Host Competition between High- and Low-Pathogenic H5N8 Avian Influenza Viruses in Chickens Compared to Ducks.

ABSTRACT: Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) emerge from low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIV) through the introduction of basic amino acids at the hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site. Following viral evolution, the newly formed HPAIV likely represents a minority variant within the index host, predominantly infected with the LPAIV precursor. Using reverse genetics-engineered H5N8 viruses differing solely at the HA cleavage, we tested the hypothesis that the interaction between the minority HPAIV and the majority LPAIV could modulate the risk of HPAIV emergence and that the nature of the interaction could depend on the host species. In chickens, we observed that the H5N8_LP increased H5N8_HP replication and pathogenesis. In contrast, the H5N8_LP anta

SUBMITTER: Bessiere P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8754203 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature