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Literature detail

Novel avian influenza A (H5N6) viruses isolated in migratory waterfowl before the first human case reported in China, 2014.

Yuhai Bi1,2,3 Haizhou Liu4 Chaochao Xiong4 Di Liu1 Weifeng Shi5 Mingxin Li4 Siling Liu4 Jing Chen6 Guang Chen6 Yong Li6 Guoxiang Yang6 Yongsong Lei6 Yanping Xiong6 Fumin Lei7 Hanzhong Wang4 Quanjiao Chen4,3 Jianjun Chen4,3 George F Gao1,2,3,8,9
Affiliations 9 institutions
  1. Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China.
  2. Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
  3. Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
  4. Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
  5. Institute of Pathogen Biology, Taishan Medical College, Taian 271016, China.
  6. The Monitoring Center of Wildlife Diseases and Resource of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430075, China.
  7. CAS Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
  8. Office of Director-General, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Beijing 102206, China.
  9. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Medical School, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China.
PMID 27431568 2016 Sci Rep eng epublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

In May 2014, China formally confirmed the first human infection with the novel H5N6 avian influenza virus (AIV) in Sichuan Province. Before the first human case was reported, surveillance of AIVs in wild birds resulted in the detection of three H5N6 viruses in faecal samples from migratory waterfowl in Chenhu wetlands, Hubei Province, China. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that these three novel viruses were closely related to the H5N6 virus that has caused human infections in China since 2014. A Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction of all eight segments suggests multiple reassortment events in the evolution of these viruses. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) originated from the H5N2 and H6N6 AIVs, respectively, whereas all six internal genes were derived from avian H5N1 viruses. The reassortant may have occurred in eastern China during 2012-2013. A phylogeographic analysis of the HA and NA genes traced the viruses to southern China, from where they spread to other areas via eastern China. A receptor-binding test showed that H5N6 viruses from migratory waterfowl had human-type receptor-binding activity, suggesting a potential for transmission to humans. These data suggest that migratory waterfowl may play a role in the dissemination of novel H5N6 viruses.

Animals Animals, Wild Birds China Genome, Viral Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus Humans Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype Influenza A Virus, H5N2 Subtype Influenza in Birds Influenza, Human Neuraminidase

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

4 total
Genomic Evolution 1 records
Genomic Evolution Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Phylogenetic analysis showed that H5N6 viruses from migratory waterfowl arose through reassortment of gene segments from H5N2, H6N6, and H5N1 avian influenza viruses and are genetically related to human H5N6 viruses in China.

Virus
IAV H5N6
Host
Anatidae
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that these three novel viruses were closely related to the H5N6 virus that has caused human infections in China since 2014. A Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction of all eight segments suggests multiple reassortment events in the evolution of these viruses. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) originated from the H5N2 and H6N6 AIVs, respectively, whereas all six internal genes were derived from avian H5N1 viruses.

Genes or proteins
HA; NA
Analysis methods
genetic analysis; phylogenetic analysis; Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction; phylogeographic analysis
Receptor Usage 1 records
Receptor Usage Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

H5N6 viruses detected in migratory waterfowl exhibited human-type receptor-binding activity, implying compatibility with human receptors.

Virus
IAV H5N6
Host
Anatidae
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

A receptor-binding test showed that H5N6 viruses from migratory waterfowl had human-type receptor-binding activity, suggesting a potential for transmission to humans.

Method
receptor-binding test
Receptors
human-type receptor
Recombination Or Reassortment 1 records
Recombination Or Reassortment Extraction confidence 1.00
Key finding

Novel H5N6 avian influenza viruses from migratory waterfowl were reassortants combining HA from H5N2, NA from H6N6, and internal genes from H5N1, linking segment exchange to the emergence of viruses with human-type receptor-binding activity.

Host
Not specified
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

A Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction of all eight segments suggests multiple reassortment events in the evolution of these viruses. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) originated from the H5N2 and H6N6 AIVs, respectively, whereas all six internal genes were derived from avian H5N1 viruses.

Event type
reassortment
Genes or segments
HA; NA; internal genes
Zoonotic Surveillance 1 records
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 1.00
Key finding

Avian influenza A (H5N6) viruses were detected through wild bird surveillance in migratory waterfowl fecal samples from Hubei Province, China before human infection was confirmed.

Virus
IAV H5N6
Host
Anatidae
Location
China China
Supporting text

Before the first human case was reported, surveillance of AIVs in wild birds resulted in the detection of three H5N6 viruses in faecal samples from migratory waterfowl in Chenhu wetlands, Hubei Province, China.

Method
surveillance
Sample type
faecal samples
Geographic raw
Chenhu wetlands, Hubei Province, China
Country inferred
China