Effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine in preventing influenza primary care visits and hospitalisation in Auckland, New Zealand in 2015: interim estimates.

Preliminary results for influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against acute respiratory illness with circulating laboratory-confirmed influenza viruses in New Zealand from 27 April to 26 September 2015, using a case test-negative design were 36% (95% confidence interval (CI): 11-54) for general practice encounters and 50% (95% CI: 20-68) for hospitalisations. VE against hospitalised influenza A(H3N2) illnesses was moderate at 53% (95% CI: 6-76) but improved compared with previous seasons.

Antiviral susceptibility of variant influenza A(H3N2)v viruses isolated in the United States from 2011 to 2013.

Since 2011, outbreaks caused by influenza A(H3N2) variant [A(H3N2)v] viruses have become a public health concern in the United States. The A(H3N2)v viruses share the A(H1N1)pdm09 M gene containing the marker of M2 blocker resistance, S31N, but do not contain any known molecular markers associated with resistance to neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors (NAIs). Using a fluorescent NA inhibition (NI) assay, the susceptibilities of recovered A(H3N2)v viruses (n=168) to FDA-approved (oseltamivir and zanamivir) and other (peramivir, laninamivir, and A-315675) NAIs were assessed. All A(H3N2)v viruses tested, with the exception of a single virus strain, A/Ohio/88/2012, isolated from an untreated patient, were susceptible to the NAIs tested. The A/Ohio/88/2012 virus contained two rare substitutions, S245N and S247P, in the NA and demonstrated reduced inhibition by oseltamivir (31-fold) and zanamivir (66-fold) in the NI assay. Using recombinant NA (recNA) proteins, S247P was shown to be responsible for the observed altered NAI susceptibility, in addition to an approximately 60% reduction in NA enzymatic activity. The S247P substitution has not been previously reported as a molecular marker of reduced susceptibility to the NAIs. Using cell culture assays, the investigational antiviral drugs nitazoxanide, favipiravir, and fludase were shown to inhibit the replication of A(H3N2)v viruses, including the virus with the S247P substitution in the NA. This report demonstrates the importance of continuous monitoring of susceptibility of zoonotic influenza viruses to available and investigational antiviral drugs.

Standardizing the influenza neuraminidase inhibition assay among United States public health laboratories conducting virological surveillance.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring influenza virus susceptibility to neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors (NAIs) is vital for detecting drug-resistant variants, and is primarily assessed using NA inhibition (NI) assays, supplemented by NA sequence analysis. However, differences in NI testing methodologies between surveillance laboratories results in variability of 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values, which impacts data sharing, reporting and interpretation. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with the Association for Public Health Laboratories (APHL) spearheaded efforts to standardize fluorescence-based NI assay testing in the United States (U.S.), with the goal of achieving consistency of IC50 data. METHODS: For the standardization process, three participating state public health laboratories (PHLs), designated as National Surveillance Reference Centers for Influenza (NSRC-Is), assessed the NAI susceptibility of the 2011-12 CDC reference virus panel using stepwise procedures, with support from the CDC reference laboratory. Next, the NSRC-Is assessed the NAI susceptibility of season 2011-12 U.S. influenza surveillance isolates (n = 940), with a large subset (n = 742) tested in parallel by CDC. Subsequently, U.S. influenza surveillance isolates (n = 9629) circulating during the next three influenza seasons (2012-15), were independently tested by the three NSRC-Is (n = 7331) and CDC (n = 2298). RESULTS: The NI assay IC50s generated by respective NSRC-Is using viruses and drugs prepared by CDC were similar to those obtained with viruses and drugs prepared in-house, and were uniform between laboratories. IC50s for U.S. surveillance isolates tested during four consecutive influenza seasons (2011-15) were consistent from season to season, within and between laboratories. CONCLUSION: These results show that the NI assay is robust enough to be standardized, marking the first time IC50 data have been normalized across multiple laboratories, and used for U.S. national NAI susceptibility surveillance.

A 'minimal' approach in design of flavivirus infectious DNA.

The 'infectious DNA' approach, which is based on in vivo transcription of (+)RNA virus genome cDNA cassettes from eukaryotic promoters in transfected cells, became a popular alternative to the classical scheme in the infectious clone methodology. Its use, however, is often limited by the instability of plasmids due to a transcriptional activity of eukaryotic promoters in Escherichia coli resulting in synthesis of products toxic for the bacterial host. Using a highly unstable representative infectious clone of Japanese encephalitis (JE) flavivirus, we tested a new approach in design of such problematic 'infectious DNA' constructs, which is based on minimizing unwanted transcription in the bacterial host. A plasmid containing full genome size JE cDNA under control of the minimal cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter can be propagated in E. coli with growth and stability characteristics similar to that of constructs controlled by the T7 promoter. Transfection of this plasmid into susceptible cells leads to the establishment of a productive infectious cycle. Reinsertion of the CMV enhancer at the 3'-end of the JE cassette substantially increased the specific infectivity without affecting the stability and growth characteristics of the construct. This approach can be useful when stabilization of infectious clones by modification of a viral cDNA cassette is not the feasible or suitable alternative.

Genetic diversity of hantaviruses associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the far east of Russia.

To identify the hantaviruses causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the Far East of Russia, blood samples collected from HFRS patients in 1994-1998, were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, 36 sera were tested by an immunofluorescence assay for antibodies against Hantaan, Seoul, Puumala, and Khabarovsk viruses, and 54 samples were tested by plaque reduction neutralization test. With both serological assays, the highest antibody titers were to Hantaan and/or Seoul viruses. Of 110 blood samples 36 were found RT-PCR positive. Phylogenetic analysis the sequences of a 256-nucleotide (nt) fragment of the hantavirus M genome segment revealed at least 3 genetically distinct hantavirus lineages. Nucleotide sequence comparison showed that two of the lineages, designated as FE and Amur (AMR), differed from one another by 15.9-21.2% and from Hantaan virus by 9.8-17.5%. The third lineage, VDV, differed from Seoul virus by 2.6-5.1%. All S segment sequences were from FE lineage, and differed from Hantaan virus by 10.7-12.6%. Thirty of the 36 (83%) analyzed sequences were found to be the FE genotype, which is very similar to that of Hantaan virus, strain 76-118. Of the remaining hantaviruses, 11% were the AMR genotype, and 6% the VDV genotype, which are genetically novel genotypes of Hantaan or Seoul viruses, respectively.

Nucleotide sequence of rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase gene fragment.

The sequence of a 3677 nucleotide EcoRI fragment was determined that codes for part of the rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase gene. The sequence was compared with the previously determined cDNA sequence and the intron and exon boundaries were deduced.

[Secondary structure of the M2 protein of influenza type A virus and its role in forming resistance to rimantadine and deitiforin]. / Vtorichnaia struktura belka M2 virusa grippa tipa A i ego rol' v formirovanii rezistentnosti k remantadinu i deitiforinu.

Studies of the molecular aspects of resistance of influenza virus A to drugs (rimantadine, deytiforine, amantadine) allow a purposeful design of new compounds with a broad spectrum of antiviral activity and evoking no resistance. In this work the nucleotide sequence of rimantadine- and deytiforine-resistant influenza A strain Leningrad/156/83 (H3N2) was compared with that of A/Victoria/35/72. The influence of aminoacid substitutions in the M2 protein on its secondary structure in the membrane and its role in resistance development was shown.

[Cloning and determination of the primary structure of DNA complementary to the mRNA of human ribosomal protein L11]. / Klonirovanie i opredelenie pervichnoi struktury DNK, komplementarnoi mRNK ribosomnogo belka L11 cheloveka.

A polymerase chain reaction strategy was employed to isolate cDNA encoding L11 human ribosomal protein. Based on the known nucleotide sequence of 5'-region of the ribosomal protein L11 mRNA, we have designed primers and used them in amplification of corresponding sequence of human cDNA from total placenta cDNA. The fragment of RPS26 cDNA was cloned in plasmid vector and sequenced. Sequence analysis showed that there is high homology (88%) between coding regions of RPS26 mRNAs in rat liver and human placenta. The amino acid exchanges were observed at positions: 91 (Asp-->Glu), 217 (Thr-->Ala), 352 (Lys-->Glu).

[Mapping of the genes for ribosomal proteins S26, L19, and L32 on human chromosomes]. / Kartirovanie genov ribosomnykh belkov S26, L19, i L32 na khromosomakh cheloveka.

A fragment of cDNA and an intron-containing fragment of the human L19 ribosomal protein (RPL19) gene, and introns of the human ribosomal proteins S26 (RPS26) and L32 (RPL32) genes were cloned and sequenced. The intron-containing genes of these ribosomal proteins were mapped to human chromosomes by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a human/rodent hybrid DNA panel.

[Expression of synthetic gene for human angiogenin in E. coli cells]. / Ekspressiia sinteticheskogo gena angiogenina cheloveka v kletkakh E. coli.

A synthetic gene for human angiogenin was cloned into pRTang under control of the Proteus mirabilis recA promoter. After induction with mitomycin C, Escherichia coli cells transformed with pRTang produced an additional 14.2-kDa protein. According to electrophoretic and immunochemical analyses, this protein was identical to human angiogenin.

[Use of a phage peptide library in mapping the group-specific hemagglutinating domain of alpha-virus glycoprotein E2]. / Ispol'zovanie fagovoi biblioteki peptidov v kartirovanii gruppospetsificheskogo gemaggliutiniruiushchego domena glikoproteina E2 al'fa-virusa.

Phage display peptide library f88-4/15 (G. P. Smith, USA) was used for mapping the hemagglutination activity domain of glycoprotein E2 of alphaviruses. Using affinity selection and ELISA, we selected the clones binding monoclonal antibody 4H5 to Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus and inhibiting alphavirus hemagglutinating activity. Analysis of the similarity between the peptides amino acid sequences with the alphavirus glycoprotein E2 sequences revealed a structural motive of 4 amino acid residues (HTSR) which was identified in the 85-88 region. Bacteriophages F36 and F19 contained motives corresponding to 102-SXXM-105 and 109-AXXP-112 regions in alphavirus proteins E2. These data permit us to propose that the detected regions are fragments of a group-specific alphavirus hemagglutination domain.

[Gene Nc73EF of Drosophila melanogaster encodes a protein highly homologous to E1 subunit of human 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase]. / Gen Nc73EF Drosophila melanogaster kodiruet belok, vysoko gomologichnyi E1-sub"edinitse 2-oksoglutaratdegidrogenazy cheloveka.

The primary structure of the cDNA copy of the evolutionary conserved gene Nc73EF from the region 73EF of Drosophila melanogaster was determined. Gene Nc73EF was shown to encode a protein highly homologous to the E1 subunit of human 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, which catalyzes one of the key reactions of the Krebs cycle.

[The origin of resistance to chemicals of naturally occurring isolates of influenza A virus]. / Proiskhozhdenie rezistentnosti k khimiopreparatam u prirodnykh izoliatov virusa grippa A.

The mechanisms responsible for the formation of resistance of influenza A virus isolates during the natural circulation of the influenza viruses in the environment were studied. The influenza viruses H1N1 and H3N2 resistant to remantadine, adapromine, and deitiforine have been isolated in the USSR and Mongolia since 1982. The majority of natural resistant isolates appeared to be atypical both in antigenic properties and genomic structure as compared to the isolates prevalent in the common epidemic process. The nucleotide sequences of the M2 gene of some resistant strains and virus A/PR8/34 used in our country as an attenuation donor for preparation of killed recombinant vaccines. The electrophoretic mobility of genomic RNA of two resistant isolates is similar to that of the vaccine strain X-54 based on the virus A/PR/8/34. In this connection, the appearance of resistant strains in the environment may be due not only to spontaneous mutagenesis or selective drug actions, but also to the involvement into the circulation of vaccinal strains.

[Structure of over lapping region of ICP18.5 and gB genes of type 1 bovine herpesvirus strain TK-A]. / Struktura oblasti perekryvaniia genov ICP18.5 i gB gerpesvirusa krupnogo rogatogo skota 1-go tipa, shtamm TK-A.

Nucleotide sequence of DNA fragment coding 3'-terminal of ICO 18.5 gene that overlaps the regulatory region and 5'-terminal of open reading frame of gB gene of bovine herpesvirus (BHV-1, subtype 1.3), strain TK-A, was determined. Comparative analysis of the sequence with the corresponding DNA regions of BHV-1, subtype 1.1, equine herpesviruses of the first and fourth types, and porcine pseudorabies virus was performed.

[Markers of hepatitis C and its various genotypes in patients from Novosibirsk]. / Markery virusa gepatita C i razlichnky ego genotipov u patsientov Novosibirska.

Study of the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers in 153 patients of Municipal Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Novosibirsk revealed anti-HCV in 88.2% patients and viral RNA in 69.3% samples. For 93 Siberian HCV isolates 5'-UTR regions were amplified and sequenced. Comparison of these nucleotide sequences with databank showed that 63.4% HCV isolates belonged to subtype 1b, 7.5% to genotype 2, and 18.3% to genotype 3. In the rest HCV isolates the 5'-UTR sequences contained heretofore undescribed nucleotide substitutions, insertions, or deletions.

[Localization of tick-borne encephalitis virus protein E antigenic determinant recognized by antihemagglutinating monoclonal antibodies using a phage-display peptide library]. / Lokalizatsiia antigennoi determinanty belka E virusa kleshchevogo éntsefalita, uznavaemoi antigemaggliutiniruiushchimi monoklonal'nymi antitelami, s pomoshch'iu peptidnoi fagovoi biblioteki.

Bacteriophages bearing peptides reacting with antihemagglutinating monoclonal antibodies (MAb) 10H10 to tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus protein E were selected from a phage-display peptide library by affinity selection and enzyme immunoassay. The library contained randomized peptides that are 6 amino acids long, fused with protein pIII and exposed on the surface of the bacteriophage. No significant homology between the sequences of selected peptides and TBE virus protein E was detected. Computer software was created to locate the conformation epitopes on the surface of protein E. Amino acids R73, C74, T76, M77, N103, C105, L107, and S112 were found to form a discontinuous epitope recognized by MAb 10H10. These amino acids are remote in the protein sequence but close in the tertiary structure and form a whole epitope located in the structural domain II of protein E. Presumably the localized amino acids bind to the cellular receptor for TBE virus.

[Construction of reference panel of immune serum against hepatitis C virus with standard level of IgG antibodies]. / Konstruirovanie referens-panelei syvorotok k virusu gepatita C s normirovannym urovnem IgG-antitel.

A panel of anti-HCV sera (lot 03HC) was prepared from human sera obtained at blood transfusion centers and infectious hospitals. Donor sera and high-titer sera from patients infected with HCV were used. For positive samples, specific sera reactive with the core and/or NS proteins of HCV 1b and 2 were selected. Positive sera were standardized by the concentrations of IgG with a pool of negative sera containing no HBsAg and antibodies to HIV, HCV, and syphilis. The sera for the panel were selected and titered in screening and specific tests. The anti-HCV panel includes negative and positive sera with low and high titers. The panel sera are stabilized and can be stored for a short time at room temperature. The anti-HCV panel of sera, lot 02HC, was certified at L. A. Tarasevich Institute for Standardization and Control as anti-HCV reference panel intended for sensitivity, specificity, and stability control of diagnostic systems for detection of antibodies to HCV in Russia.