Influenza viruses more adaptable than expected
Influenza virus from bats has surprisingly high adaptability / Transmission effects to other animals and humans difficult to assess / Publication in Nature Microbiology
Researchers from the University Medical Center Freiburg, the Friedrich-Löffler-Institute, Colorado State University and Kansas State University have investigated the infection potential of the influenza virus H18N11 discovered in bats. This type of virus showed a surprisingly high adaptability, which makes the probability of transmission to other animal species and humans difficult to predict. The scientists published their findings on September 16, 2019 in the journal Nature Microbiology.
"Influenza viruses generally have a high mutation rate," says Prof. Dr. Martin Schwemmle, study and research group leader at the Institute of Virology at the Freiburg University Medical Center. "Nevertheless, we were surprised at how quickly H18N11 viruses develop genetic changes in cell culture." In particular, the researchers identified changes that promote the spread of the virus. They found evidence for the previously unknown function of the viral, neuraminidase-like protein: by regulating the concentration of the immune protein MHC-II on the cell surface, it enables the efficient release of infectious viruses from infected host cells.
Low risk of infection for humans suspected
Schwemmle is cautiously optimistic about the possible risk of infection of the H18N11 influenza virus type for humans: "Ferrets have proven to be an animal model for the transmission probabilities of other influenza viruses to humans. If this is also the case for our virus type, there are no signs of a relevant risk of infection to our knowledge. However, natural transmission cannot be ruled out. Risk assessment is particularly difficult due to the high genetic adaptability of the virus." Schwemmle's researchers are currently investigating the exact function of the neuraminidase-like protein, as well as the adaptability of the H18N11 virus type to other receptors that could enable it to enter host cells, in detailed follow-up studies.
Original title of the publication: Bat influenza viruses transmit among bats but are poorly adapted to non-bat species
DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0556-9
Link to the study: https: //www.nature.com/articles/s41564-019-0556-9
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Martin Schwemmle
Research Group Leader
Institute of Virology
Freiburg University Medical Center
Phone: 0761 203-6526
martin.schwemmle@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Back
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Central Information
Phone: 0761 270-0
info@uniklinik-freiburg.de
For press inquiries:
Corporate Communications
Breisacher Straße 153
79110 Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-84830
kommunikation@uniklinik-freiburg.de