Project description:Periodic outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses and the current H1N1 pandemic highlight the need for a more detailed understanding of influenza virus pathogenesis. To investigate the host transcriptional response induced by pathogenic influenza viruses, we used a functional-genomics approach to compare gene expression profiles in lungs from wild-type 129S6/SvEv and interferon receptor (IFNR) knockout mice infected with either the fully reconstructed H1N1 1918 pandemic virus (1918) or the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus Vietnam/1203/04 (VN/1203).
Project description:The 1918 influenza pandemic was unusually severe, resulting in about 50 million deaths worldwide. A reconstructed version of the 1918 (H1N1) virus has been shown to also highly pathogenic in mice; however, the potential virulence and pathogenicity of the 1918 virus in nonhuman primates in unknown. In these studies, we demonstrate that the 1918 virus caused a highly pathogenic respiratory infection in a cynomolgus macaque model that culminated in acute respiratory distress and a fatal outcome. To characterize the global gene expression host response, oligonulceotide microarray analysis was performed on RNA isolated from the bronchus of macaques infected with either the 1918 virus or a humanized contemporary H1N1 influenza virus (A/Kawasaki/173/01). These experiments showed that infected animals mounted an immune response, characterized by dysregulation of the antiviral response, that was insufficient for protection, suggesting that atypical host innate immune responses may contribute to lethality.
Project description:The purpose of this experiment was to understand the pathogenic role of individual 1918 genes on the host response to the 1918 pandemic influenza virus. We examined reassortant avian viruses nearly identical to the pandemic 1918 virus (1918-like avian virus) carrying either the 1918 HA or PB2 gene. Both genes enhanced 1918-like avian virus replication, but only the mammalian host adaptation of the 1918-like avian virus through reassortment of the 1918 PB2 led to increased lethality in mice. We demonstrate that 1918 PB2 enhances immune and inflammatory responses concomitant with increased cellular infiltration in the lung. We also show that 1918 PB2 expression results in the repression of both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways which are crucial for inflammation mediated lung regeneration and repair.
Project description:The purpose of this experiment was to understand the pathogenic role of individual 1918 genes on the host response to the 1918 pandemic influenza virus. We examined reassortant avian viruses nearly identical to the pandemic 1918 virus (1918-like avian virus) carrying either the 1918 HA or PB2 gene. Both genes enhanced 1918-like avian virus replication, but only the mammalian host adaptation of the 1918-like avian virus through reassortment of the 1918 PB2 led to increased lethality in mice. We demonstrate that 1918 PB2 enhances immune and inflammatory responses concomitant with increased cellular infiltration in the lung. We also show that 1918 PB2 expression results in the repression of both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways which are crucial for inflammation mediated lung regeneration and repair. Five- to six-week-old female BALB/c mice (Jackson Laboratory) were used for the experiments. Isoflurane-anesthetized mice were intranasally inoculated with tenfold serial dilutions (three mice per dilution) of 1918, 1918-like avian, 1918 PB2/avian and 1918 HA/avian viruses. The dose required to kill 50% of mice (MLD50) was calculated using the Reed-Muench method. For analysis of virus growth and microarray profiling mice were intranasally inoculated with 10^4 PFU of virus (n=4/virus/timepoint) or PBS (n=3/timepoint). At days 1, 2 and 4 after infection, lungs were harvested from the infected mice. Lungs were processed for RNA extraction for microarray studies and virus titer determination.
Project description:To study the effects of secondary bacterial infection during 1918 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus infection, BALB/c mice were inoculated with the fully reconstructed 1918 influenza virus followed by inoculation with pneumococcus 72h later. To study the effects of secondary bacterial infection during 1918 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus infection, BALB/c mice were inoculated with the fully reconstructed 1918 influenza virus followed by inoculation with pneumococcus 72h later.
Project description:To study the effects of secondary bacterial infection during 1918 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus infection, BALB/c mice were inoculated with the fully reconstructed 1918 influenza virus followed by inoculation with pneumococcus 72h later.
Project description:To further understand the molecular pathogenesis of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus infection, we profiled cellular miRNAs of lung tissue from BALB/c mice infected with influenza virus BJ501 and a mouse-adapted influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1)(PR8) as a comparison.
Project description:In recent years, the roles of microRNAs playing in the regulation of influenza viruses replication caused researchers' much attenion. However, much work focused on the interactions between human, mice or chicken microRNAs with human or avian influenza viruses rather than the interactions of swine microRNAs and swine influenza viruses. To investigate the roles of swine microRNAs playing in the regulation of swine influenza A virus replication, the microRNA microarray was performed to identify which swine microRNAs were involved in swine H1N1/2009 influenza A virus infection.
Project description:The influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus caused a global flu pandemic in 2009 and contributes to seasonal epidemics. Different treatment and prevention options for influenza have been developed and applied with limited success. Here we report that an Akt inhibitor MK2206 possesses potent antiviral activity against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in vitro. We showed that MK2206 blocks the entry of different A(H1N1)pdm09 strains into cells. Moreover, MK2206 prevented A(H1N1)pdm09-mediated activation of cellular signaling pathways and the development of cellular immune responses. Importantly, A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was unable to develop resistance to MK2206. Thus, MK2206 is a potent anti-influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 agent.
Project description:Periodic outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses and the current H1N1 pandemic highlight the need for a more detailed understanding of influenza virus pathogenesis. To investigate the host transcriptional response induced by pathogenic influenza viruses, we used a functional-genomics approach to compare gene expression profiles in lungs from wild-type 129S6/SvEv and interferon receptor (IFNR) knockout mice infected with either the fully reconstructed H1N1 1918 pandemic virus (1918) or the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus Vietnam/1203/04 (VN/1203). Eight- to 10-week-old female wild-type and IFNR1-/- mice (on a 129S6/SvEv background) were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 ml of 2,2,2-tribromoethanol in tert-amylalcohol (Avertin; Sigma-Aldrich, Milwaukee, WI). Ten times the 50% lethal dose (LD50), 3.2 × 10^4 PFU (1918) or 7 × 10^3 PFU (VN/1203), in 50 μl of infectious virus diluted in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was inoculated intranasally (i.n.). Lung tissue was harvested for microarray analysis from infected animals at 1, 3, and 4 days post-innoculation. For RNA isolation, lungs were frozen in individual tubes and stored in solution D (4 M guanidinium thiocyanate, 25 mM sodium citrate, 0.5% sarcosyl, 0.1 M β-mercaptoethanol). Separate microarrays were run for each infected mouse. This included 2 animals/time point for 1918 virus-infected mice (24 animals total) or 3 animals/time point for VN/1203-infected mice (36 animals total). Lung tissue from three uninfected wild type 129S6/SvEv mice was collected as a mock control. Equal masses of total RNA from the lung tissue of the three mice were pooled prior to being run on microarray. Two-channel microarrays were used to determine gene expression in the lungs. For each individual infected lung, gene expression from an infected lung was compared to gene expression from the pooled RNA from the mock control.