Evolution of an Eurasian avian-like influenza virus in naïve and vaccinated pigs

Murcia, P. R. et al. (2012) Evolution of an Eurasian avian-like influenza virus in naïve and vaccinated pigs. PLoS Pathogens, 8(5), e1002730. (doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002730)

Abstract

The latest human influenza pandemic highlights the ability of influenza viruses to jump species barriers and emerge in new hosts, as well as the role of pigs in generating viruses with pandemic potential. The mutational power of influenza virus, caused by intrinsically error-prone viral polymerases, has been directly linked to viral emergence, as adaptive mutations present in the reservoir host are likely to be key to the evolution of sustained transmission in new hosts. Hence, studying how mutations are generated, maintained and transmitted in and among pigs is critical to understanding how novel viruses could emerge. Here we characterized the evolution and mutational spectra of influenza virus populations within naïve and vaccinated pigs linked by natural transmission, by analyzing multiple viral sequences obtained at different times post-infection. We show that the genetic make-up of influenza viruses in pigs is highly dynamic: the frequency of particular mutations, including those that could potentially alter host specificity or result in vaccine escape, fluctuated markedly, including one rapid fixation event. We also show that co-infections are common and multiple viruses – even defective ones – were transmitted between pigs despite being vaccinated. Our results provide empirical evidence of the complex dynamics of influenza viral populations in pigs and provide insight on the evolutionary basis of RNA viral emergence.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hughes, Dr Joseph and Murcia, Professor Pablo
• Authors: Murcia, P. R., Hughes, J., Battista, P., Lloyd, L., Baillie, G. J., Ramirez-Gonzalez, R. H., Ormond, D., Oliver, K., Elton, D., Mumford, J. A., Caccamo, M., Kellam, P., Grenfell, B. T., Holmes, E. C., and Wood, J. L.N.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: PLoS Pathogens
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• ISSN: 1553-7366
• ISSN (Online): 1553-7374
• Published Online: 31 May 2012
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2012 The Authors
• First Published: First published in PLoS Pathogens 8(5):e1002730
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

Related URLs

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Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
50144	1	Centre for Integrated Virology	Massimo Palmarini	Medical Research Council (MRC)	G0801822	MVLS III - CENTRE FOR VIRUS RESEARCH