Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in a common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in Florida.

Since late 2021, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (H5N1) lineage have caused widespread mortality in wild birds and poultry in the United States. Concomitant with the spread of HPAI viruses in birds are increasing numbers of mammalian infections, including wild and captive mesocarnivores and carnivores with central nervous system involvement. Here we report HPAI, A(H5N1) of clade 2.3.4.4b, in a common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) from Florida, United States. Pathological findings include neuronal necrosis and inflammation of the brain and meninges, and quantitative real time RT-PCR reveal the brain carried the highest viral load. Virus isolated from the brain contains a S246N neuraminidase substitution which leads to reduced inhibition by neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir. The increased prevalence of A(H5N1) viruses in atypical avian hosts and its cross-species transmission into mammalian species highlights the public health importance of continued disease surveillance and biosecurity protocols.

Cross-species spill-over potential of the H9N2 bat influenza A virus.

In 2017, a novel influenza A virus (IAV) was isolated from an Egyptian fruit bat. In contrast to other bat influenza viruses, the virus was related to avian A(H9N2) viruses and was probably the result of a bird-to-bat transmission event. To determine the cross-species spill-over potential, we biologically characterize features of A/bat/Egypt/381OP/2017(H9N2). The virus has a pH inactivation profile and neuraminidase activity similar to those of human-adapted IAVs. Despite the virus having an avian virus-like preference for α2,3 sialic acid receptors, it is unable to replicate in male mallard ducks; however, it readily infects ex-vivo human respiratory cell cultures and replicates in the lungs of female mice. A/bat/Egypt/381OP/2017 replicates in the upper respiratory tract of experimentally-infected male ferrets featuring direct-contact and airborne transmission. These data suggest that the bat A(H9N2) virus has features associated with increased risk to humans without a shift to a preference for α2,6 sialic acid receptors.

Antiviral Susceptibility of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Circulating Globally in 2022-2023.

The antiviral susceptibility of currently circulating (2022-2023) highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses was assessed by genotypic and phenotypic approaches. The frequency of neuraminidase (NA) and polymerase acidic (PA) substitutions associated with reduced inhibition by NA inhibitors (NAIs) (21/2698, 0.78%) or by the PA inhibitor baloxavir (14/2600, 0.54%) was low. Phenotypic testing of 22 clade 2.3.2.1a and 2.3.4.4b viruses revealed broad susceptibility to NAIs and baloxavir concluding that most contemporary HPAI A(H5N1) viruses retain susceptibility to antiviral drugs. Novel NA-K432E and NA-T438I substitutions (N2 numbering) were identified at elevated frequencies (104/2698, 3.85%) and caused reduced zanamivir and peramivir inhibition.

Resistance profiles for the investigational neuraminidase inhibitor AV5080 in influenza A and B viruses.

Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) are recommended for influenza treatment and prevention worldwide. The most widely prescribed NAI is oral oseltamivir, while inhaled zanamivir is less commonly used. Using phenotypic neuraminidase (NA) enzymatic assays and molecular modeling approaches, we examined the ability of the investigational orally-dosed NAI AV5080 to inhibit viruses of the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), A(H5N1), and A(H7N9) subtypes and the influenza B/Victoria- and B/Yamagata-lineages containing NA substitutions conferring oseltamivir or zanamivir resistance including: NA-R292K, NA-E119G/V, NA-H274Y, NA-I122L/N, and NA-R150K. Broadly, AV5080 showed enhanced in vitro efficacy when compared with oseltamivir and/or zanamivir. Reduced AV5080 inhibition was determined for influenza A viruses with NA-E119G and NA-R292K, and for B/Victoria-lineage viruses with NA-I122N/L and B/Yamagata-lineage virus with NA-R150K. Molecular modeling suggested loss of the short hydrogen bond to the carboxyl group of AV5080 affected inhibition of NA-R292K viruses, whereas loss of the salt bridge with the guanidine group of AV5080 affected inhibition of NA-E119G. The resistance profiles and predicted binding modes of AV5080 and zanamivir are most similar, but dissimilar to those of oseltamivir, in part because of a guanidine moiety compensatory binding effect. Overall, our data suggests that AV5080 is a promising orally-dosed NAI that exhibited similar or superior in vitro efficacy against viruses with reduced or highly reduced inhibition phenotypes with respect to currently approved NAIs.

Rapid evolution of A(H5N1) influenza viruses after intercontinental spread to North America.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b underwent an explosive geographic expansion in 2021 among wild birds and domestic poultry across Asia, Europe, and Africa. By the end of 2021, 2.3.4.4b viruses were detected in North America, signifying further intercontinental spread. Here we show that the western movement of clade 2.3.4.4b was quickly followed by reassortment with viruses circulating in wild birds in North America, resulting in the acquisition of different combinations of ribonucleoprotein genes. These reassortant A(H5N1) viruses are genotypically and phenotypically diverse, with many causing severe disease with dramatic neurologic involvement in mammals. The proclivity of the current A(H5N1) 2.3.4.4b virus lineage to reassort and target the central nervous system warrants concerted planning to combat the spread and evolution of the virus within the continent and to mitigate the impact of a potential influenza pandemic that could originate from similar A(H5N1) reassortants.

Influenza antivirals and their role in pandemic preparedness.

Effective antivirals provide crucial benefits during the early phase of an influenza pandemic, when vaccines are still being developed and manufactured. Currently, two classes of viral protein-targeting drugs, neuraminidase inhibitors and polymerase inhibitors, are approved for influenza treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis. Resistance to both classes has been documented, highlighting the need to develop novel antiviral options that may include both viral and host-targeted inhibitors. Such efforts will form the basis of management of seasonal influenza infections and of strategic planning for future influenza pandemics. This review focuses on the two classes of approved antivirals, their drawbacks, and ongoing work to characterize novel agents or combination therapy approaches to address these shortcomings. The importance of these topics in the ongoing process of influenza pandemic planning is also discussed.

Effect of E23G/K, F36V, N37T, E119D, and E199G polymerase acidic protein substitutions on the replication and baloxavir susceptibility of influenza B viruses.

Baloxavir marboxil (baloxavir) is a highly effective, single-dose influenza therapeutic. Identification of molecular markers in the target polymerase acidic (PA) protein that can diminish baloxavir efficacy is an ongoing goal of the scientific community. In this study, we generated recombinant Victoria-lineage and Yamagata-lineage influenza B viruses (IBVs) containing 6 substitutions (E23G/K, F36V, N37T, E119D, and E199G) spanning the endonuclease domain of the PA. Although 5 of these PA substitutions negatively impacted in vitro polymerase activity and replication kinetics, particularly in the Victoria-lineage IBV background, viruses with E119D exhibited activity levels comparable to those of wild-type viruses. Moreover, only E119D moderately decreased the susceptibility of IBVs to baloxavir (resulting in ∼2.0-fold to 2.6-fold elevated EC50s); viruses with the other substitutions exhibited normal drug inhibition. These results show that E119D may reduce the baloxavir susceptibility of IBVs without compromising their replicative fitness. Overall, this study expands the molecular landscape of PA substitutions potentially affecting baloxavir efficacy against IBV.

Influenza A virus polymerase acidic protein E23G/K substitutions weaken key baloxavir drug-binding contacts with minimal impact on replication and transmission.

Baloxavir marboxil (BXM) is approved for treating uncomplicated influenza. The active metabolite baloxavir acid (BXA) inhibits cap-dependent endonuclease activity of the influenza virus polymerase acidic protein (PA), which is necessary for viral transcription. Treatment-emergent E23G or E23K (E23G/K) PA substitutions have been implicated in reduced BXA susceptibility, but their effect on virus fitness and transmissibility, their synergism with other BXA resistance markers, and the mechanisms of resistance have been insufficiently studied. Accordingly, we generated point mutants of circulating seasonal influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses carrying E23G/K substitutions. Both substitutions caused 2- to 13-fold increases in the BXA EC50. EC50s were higher with E23K than with E23G and increased dramatically (138- to 446-fold) when these substitutions were combined with PA I38T, the dominant BXA resistance marker. E23G/K-substituted viruses exhibited slightly impaired replication in MDCK and Calu-3 cells, which was more pronounced with E23K. In ferret transmission experiments, all viruses transmitted to direct-contact and airborne-transmission animals, with only E23K+I38T viruses failing to infect 100% of animals by airborne transmission. E23G/K genotypes were predominantly stable during transmission events and through five passages in vitro. Thermostable PA-BXA interactions were weakened by E23G/K substitutions and further weakened when combined with I38T. In silico modeling indicated this was caused by E23G/K altering the placement of functionally important Tyr24 in the endonuclease domain, potentially decreasing BXA binding but at some cost to the virus. These data implicate E23G/K, alone or combined with I38T, as important markers of reduced BXM susceptibility, and such mutants could emerge and/or transmit among humans.

Novel Vaccines and Drugs That Target the Surface Glycoproteins of Influenza Viruses, RSV, Parainfluenza Viruses, and SARS-CoV-2.

Newly emerging and seasonal respiratory viruses have a great impact on public health[...]

Influenza A virus polymerase acidic protein E23R substitution is a marker of reduced susceptibility to baloxavir.

In our ongoing efforts to identify baloxavir resistance markers, we demonstrated that the influenza A polymerase acidic (PA) protein E23R substitution is genetically stable, increases baloxavir EC50 values (13- to 19-fold vs. wild-type), synergizes with PA I38T, and only modestly decreases viral fitness. E23R is, therefore, a potential threat to baloxavir treatment efficacy.

Global update on the susceptibilities of human influenza viruses to neuraminidase inhibitors and the cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir, 2018-2020.

Global analysis of the susceptibility of influenza viruses to neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors (NAIs) and the polymerase acidic (PA) inhibitor (PAI) baloxavir was conducted by five World Health Organization Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza during two periods (May 2018-May 2019 and May 2019-May 2020). Combined phenotypic and NA sequence-based analysis revealed that the global frequency of viruses displaying reduced or highly reduced inhibition (RI or HRI) or potential to show RI/HRI by NAIs remained low, 0.5% (165/35045) and 0.6% (159/26010) for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 periods, respectively. The most common amino acid substitution was NA-H275Y (N1 numbering) conferring HRI by oseltamivir and peramivir in A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. Combined phenotypic and PA sequence-based analysis showed that the global frequency of viruses showing reduced susceptibility to baloxavir or carrying substitutions associated with reduced susceptibility was low, 0.5% (72/15906) and 0.1% (18/15692) for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 periods, respectively. Most (n = 61) of these viruses had I38→T/F/M/S/L/V PA amino acid substitutions. In Japan, where baloxavir use was highest, the rate was 4.5% (41/919) in the 2018-2019 period and most of the viruses (n = 32) had PA-I38T. Zoonotic viruses isolated from humans (n = 32) in different countries did not contain substitutions in NA associated with NAI RI/HRI phenotypes. One A(H5N6) virus had a dual substitution PA-I38V + PA-E199G, which may reduce susceptibility to baloxavir. Therefore, NAIs and baloxavir remain appropriate choices for the treatment of influenza virus infections, but close monitoring of antiviral susceptibility is warranted.

Development of a Mouse Model to Explore CD4 T Cell Specificity, Phenotype, and Recruitment to the Lung after Influenza B Infection.

The adaptive T cell response to influenza B virus is understudied, relative to influenza A virus, for which there has been considerable attention and progress for many decades. Here, we have developed and utilized the C57BL/6 mouse model of intranasal infection with influenza B (B/Brisbane/60/2008) virus and, using an iterative peptide discovery strategy, have identified a series of robustly elicited individual CD4 T cell peptide specificities. The CD4 T cell repertoire encompassed at least eleven major epitopes distributed across hemagglutinin, nucleoprotein, neuraminidase, and non-structural protein 1 and are readily detected in the draining lymph node, spleen, and lung. Within the lung, the CD4 T cells are localized to both lung vasculature and tissue but are highly enriched in the lung tissue after infection. When studied by flow cytometry and MHC class II: peptide tetramers, CD4 T cells express prototypical markers of tissue residency including CD69, CD103, and high surface levels of CD11a. Collectively, our studies will enable more sophisticated analyses of influenza B virus infection, where the fate and function of the influenza B-specific CD4 T cells elicited by infection and vaccination can be studied as well as the impact of anti-viral reagents and candidate vaccines on the abundance, functionality, and localization of the elicited CD4 T cells.

Influenza polymerase inhibitor resistance: Assessment of the current state of the art - A report of the isirv Antiviral group.

It is more than 20 years since the neuraminidase inhibitors, oseltamivir and zanamivir were approved for the treatment and prevention of influenza. Guidelines for global surveillance and methods for evaluating resistance were established initially by the Neuraminidase Inhibitor Susceptibility Network (NISN), which merged 10 years ago with the International Society for influenza and other Respiratory Virus Diseases (isirv) to become the isirv-Antiviral Group (isirv-AVG). With the ongoing development of new influenza polymerase inhibitors and recent approval of baloxavir marboxil, the isirv-AVG held a closed meeting in August 2019 to discuss the impact of resistance to these inhibitors. Following this meeting and review of the current literature, this article is intended to summarize current knowledge regarding the clinical impact of resistance to polymerase inhibitors and approaches for surveillance and methods for laboratory evaluation of resistance, both in vitro and in animal models. We highlight limitations and gaps in current knowledge and suggest some strategies for addressing these gaps, including the need for additional clinical studies of influenza antiviral drug combinations. Lessons learned from influenza resistance monitoring may also be helpful for establishing future drug susceptibility surveillance and testing for SARS-CoV-2.

Baloxavir Treatment Delays Influenza B Virus Transmission in Ferrets and Results in Limited Generation of Drug-Resistant Variants.

Clinical efficacy of the influenza antiviral baloxavir marboxil (baloxavir) is compromised by treatment-emergent variants harboring a polymerase acidic protein I38T (isoleucine-38-threonine) substitution. However, the fitness of I38T-containing influenza B viruses (IBVs) remains inadequately defined. After the pharmacokinetics of the compound were confirmed in ferrets, animals were injected subcutaneously with 8 mg/kg of baloxavir acid (BXA) at 24 h postinoculation with recombinant BXA-sensitive (BXA-Sen, I38) or BXA-resistant (BXA-Res, I38T) B/Brisbane/60/2008 (Victoria lineage) virus. BXA treatment of donor ferrets reduced virus replication and delayed transmission of the BXA-Sen but not the BXA-Res IBV. The I38 genotype remained dominant in the BXA-Sen-infected animals, even with BXA treatment. In competitive-mixture experiments, no transmission to aerosol contacts was seen from BXA-treated donors coinfected with the BXA-Sen and BXA-Res B/Brisbane/60/2008 viruses. However, in parallel mixed infections with the B/Phuket/3073/2013 (Yamagata lineage) virus background, BXA treatment failed to block airborne transmission of the BXA-Res virus, and the I38T genotype generally predominated. Therefore, the relative fitness of BXA-Res IBVs is complex and dependent on the virus backbone and within-host virus competition. BXA treatment of single-virus-infected ferrets hampers aerosol transmission of the BXA-Sen virus and does not readily generate BXA-Res variants, whereas mixed infections may result in propagation of BXA-Res IBVs of the Yamagata lineage. Our findings confirm the antiviral potency of baloxavir against IBVs, while supporting optimization of the dosing regimen to maximize clinical benefit.

Synthesis, inhibitory activity and oral dosing formulation of AV5124, the structural analogue of influenza virus endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir.

BACKGROUND: The development and clinical implementation of the cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN) inhibitor baloxavir marboxil was a breakthrough in influenza therapy, but it was associated with the emergence of drug-resistant variants. OBJECTIVES: To design and synthesize structural analogues of CEN inhibitors and evaluate their safety, pharmacokinetics and antiviral potency in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The drug candidate AV5124 and its active metabolite AV5116 were synthesized based on pharmacophore modelling. Stability in plasma and microsomes, plasma protein binding, cytotoxicity and antiviral activities were assessed in vitro. Pharmacokinetics after IV or oral administration were analysed in CD-1 mice. Acute toxicity and protective efficacy against lethal A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus challenge were examined in BALB/c mice. RESULTS: Pharmacophore model-assisted, 3D molecular docking predicted key supramolecular interactions of the metal-binding group and bulky hydrophobic group of AV5116 with the CEN binding site (Protein Data Bank code: 6FS6) that are essential for high antiviral activity. AV5116 inhibited influenza virus polymerase complexes in cell-free assays and replication of oseltamivir-susceptible and -resistant influenza A and B viruses at nanomolar concentrations. Notably, AV5116 was equipotent or more potent than baloxavir acid (BXA) against WT (I38-WT) viruses and viruses with reduced BXA susceptibility carrying an I38T polymerase acidic (PA) substitution. AV5116 exhibited low cytotoxicity in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and lacked mitochondrial toxicity, resulting in favourable selective indices. Treatment with 20 or 50 mg/kg AV5124 prevented death in 60% and 100% of animals, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, AV5124 and A5116 are promising inhibitors of the influenza virus CEN and warrant further development as potent anti-influenza agents.

Multiple polymerase acidic (PA) I38X substitutions in influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus permit polymerase activity and cause reduced baloxavir inhibition.

BACKGROUND: Baloxavir marboxil is an antiviral drug that targets the endonuclease activity of the influenza virus polymerase acidic (PA) protein. PA I38T/M/F substitutions reduce its antiviral efficacy. OBJECTIVES: To understand the effects of the 19 possible amino acid (AA) substitutions at PA 38 on influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 polymerase activity and inhibition by baloxavir acid, the active metabolite of baloxavir marboxil. METHODS: Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viral polymerase complexes containing all 19 I38X AA substitutions were reconstituted in HEK293T cells in a mini-replicon assay. Polymerase complex activity and baloxavir inhibitory activity were measured in the presence or absence of 50 nM baloxavir acid. RESULTS: Only three substitutions (R, K, P) reduced polymerase activity to <79% of I38-WT. When compared with the prototypical baloxavir marboxil resistance marker T38, 5 substitutions conferred 10%-35% reductions in baloxavir acid inhibitory activity (M, L, F, Y, C) and 11 substitutions conferred >50% reductions (R, K, S, N, G, W, A, Q, E, D, H), while two substitutions (V, P) maintained baloxavir acid inhibitory activity. CONCLUSIONS: Most PA 38 substitutions permit a functional replication complex retaining some drug resistance in the mini-replicon assay. This study provides a targeted approach for virus rescue and analysis of novel baloxavir marboxil reduced-susceptibility markers, supports the consideration of a broader range of these markers during antiviral surveillance and adds to the growing knowledge of baloxavir marboxil resistance profiles.

In Vitro Profiling of Laninamivir-Resistant Substitutions in N3 to N9 Avian Influenza Virus Neuraminidase Subtypes and Their Association with In Vivo Susceptibility.

Laninamivir (LAN) is a long-acting neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor (NAI) with a similar binding profile in the influenza NA enzyme active site as those of other NAIs, oseltamivir (OS), zanamivir (ZAN), and peramivir, and may share common resistance markers with these NAIs. We screened viruses with NA substitutions previously found during OS and ZAN selection in avian influenza viruses (AIVs) of the N3 to N9 subtypes for LAN susceptibility. Of the 72 NA substitutions, 19 conferred resistance to LAN, which ranged from 11.2- to 549.8-fold-decreased inhibitory activity over that of their parental viruses. Ten NA substitutions reduced the susceptibility to all four NAIs, whereas the remaining 26 substitutions yielded susceptibility to one or more NAIs. To determine whether the in vitro susceptibility of multi-NAI-resistant AIVs is associated with in vivo susceptibility, we infected BALB/c mice with recombinant AIVs with R292K (ma81K-N3R292K) or Q136K (ma81K-N8Q136K) NA substitutions, which impart in vitro susceptibility only to LAN or OS, respectively. Both ma81K-N3R292K and ma81K-N8Q136K virus-infected mice exhibited reduced weight loss, mortality, and lung viral titers when treated with their susceptible NAIs, confirming the in vitro susceptibility of these substitutions. Together, LAN resistance profiling of AIVs of a range of NA subtypes improves the understanding of NAI resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, the association of in vitro and in vivo NAI susceptibility indicates that our models are useful tools for monitoring NAI susceptibility of AIVs.IMPORTANCE The chemical structures of neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) possess similarities, but slight differences can result in variable susceptibility of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) carrying resistance-associated NA substitutions. Therefore, comprehensive susceptibility profiling of these substitutions in AIVs is critical for understanding the mechanism of antiviral resistance. In this study, we profiled resistance to the anti-influenza drug laninamivir in AIVs with substitutions known to impart resistance to other NAIs. We found 10 substitutions that conferred resistance to all four NAIs tested. On the other hand, we found that the remaining 26 NA substitutions were susceptible to at least one or more NAIs and showed for a small selection that in vitro data predicted in vivo behavior. Therefore, our findings highlight the usefulness of screening resistance markers in NA enzyme inhibition assays and animal models of AIV infections.

Non-rigid Diarylmethyl Analogs of Baloxavir as Cap-Dependent Endonuclease Inhibitors of Influenza Viruses.

4-Substituted 2,4-dioxobutanoic acids inhibit influenza virus cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN) activity. Baloxavir marboxil, 4, is approved for treating influenza virus infections. We describe here the synthesis and biological evaluation of active compounds, 5a-5g, and their precursors (6a, 6b, 6d, and 6e) with flexible bulky hydrophobic groups instead of the rigid polyheterocyclic moieties. In silico docking confirmed the ability of 5a-5g to bind to the active site of influenza A CEN (PDB code: 6FS6) like baloxavir acid, 3. These novel compounds inhibited polymerase complex activity, inhibited virus replication in cells, prevented death in a lethal influenza A virus mouse challenge model, and dramatically lowered viral lung titers. 5a and 5e potently inhibited different influenza genera in vitro. Precursors 6a and 6d demonstrated impressive mouse oral bioavailability with 6a, providing effective in vivo protection. Thus, these novel compounds are potent CEN inhibitors with in vitro and in vivo activity comparable to baloxavir.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Protects Pharmacologically Immunosuppressed Mice from Lethal Infection with Influenza B Virus.

Human influenza A and B viruses are highly contagious and cause similar illnesses and seasonal epidemics. Currently available antiviral drugs have limited efficacy in humans with compromised immune systems; therefore, alternative strategies for protection are needed. Here, we investigated whether monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) targeting hemagglutinin (HA) and/or neuraminidase (NA) proteins would protect immunosuppressed mice from severe infections with influenza B virus. Pharmacologically immunosuppressed BALB/c mice were inoculated with B/Brisbane/60/2008 (BR/08) influenza virus and were treated with a single dose of 1, 5, or 25 mg/kg of body weight per day of either an anti-HA MAb (1D2) or an anti-NA MAb (1F2) starting at 24 hours postinoculation (hpi). Monotherapy with 1D2 or 1F2 MAbs provided dose-dependent protection of mice, with decreased BR/08 virus replication and spread in the mouse lungs, compared with those of controls. Combination treatment with 1D2 and 1F2 provided greater protection than did monotherapy, even when started at 48 hpi. Virus spread was also efficiently restrained within the lungs, being limited to 6%, 10%, and 10% of that seen in active infection when treatment was initiated at 24, 48, and 72 hpi, respectively. In most cases, the expression of cytokines and chemokines was altered according to when treatment was initiated. Higher expression of proinflammatory IP-10 and MCP-1 in combination-treatment groups, but not in monotherapy groups, to some extent, promoted better control of virus spread within the lungs. This study demonstrates the potential value of MAb immunotherapy in treating influenza in immunocompromised hosts who are at increased risk of severe disease.