Possible Increased Pathogenicity of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza Virus upon Reassortment

Eefje Schrauwen, Sander Herfst, Salin Chutinimitkul, Theo Bestebroer, Guus Rimmelzwaan, Ab Osterhaus, Thijs Kuiken, Ron Fouchier

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Abstract

Since emergence of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in April 2009, three influenza A viruses-seasonal (H3N2), seasonal (H1N1), and pandemic (H1N1) 2009-have circulated in humans. Genetic reassortment between these viruses could result in enhanced pathogenicity. We compared 4 reassortant viruses with favorable in vitro replication properties with the wild-type pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus with respect to replication kinetics in vitro and pathogenicity and transmission in ferrets. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses containing basic polymerase 2 alone or in combination with acidic polymerase of seasonal (H1N1) virus were attenuated in ferrets. In contrast, pandemic (H1N1) 2009 with neuraminidase of seasonal (H3N2) virus resulted in increased virus replication and more severe pulmonary lesions. The data show that pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus has the potential to reassort with seasonal influenza viruses, which may result in increased pathogenicity while it maintains the capacity of transmission through aerosols or respiratory droplets.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)200-208
Number of pages9
JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Research programs

  • EMC MM-04-27-01

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