Ecology of avian influenza viruses in migratory birds wintering within the Yangtze River wetlands.

Migratory birds are considered natural reservoirs of avian influenza A viruses (AIVs). To further our viral ecology knowledge and understand the subsequent risk posed by wild birds, we conducted a 4-year surveillance study of AIVs in the bird wintering wetlands of the Yangtze River, China. We collected over 8000 samples and isolated 122 AIV strains. Analyses were then carried out with 108 novel sequenced genomes and data were deposited in GISAID and other public databases. The results showed that the Yangtze River wintering wetlands functioned as a mixing ground, where various subtypes of AIVs were detected harboring a high diversity of nucleotide sequences; moreover, a portion of AIV gene segments were persistent inter-seasonally. Phylogenetic incongruence presented complex reassortment events and distinct patterns among various subtypes. In addition, we observed that viral gene segments in wintering wetlands were closely related to known North American isolates, indicating that intercontinental gene flow occurred. Notably, highly pathogenic H5 and low pathogenic H9 viruses, which usually circulate in poultry, were found to have crossed the poultry/wild bird interface, with the viruses introduced to wintering birds. Overall, this study represented the largest AIV surveillance effort of wild birds within the Yangtze River wintering wetlands. Surveillance data highlighted the important role of wintering wild birds in the ecology of AIVs and may enable future early warnings of novel AIV emergence.

Two genetically diverse H7N7 avian influenza viruses isolated from migratory birds in central China.

After the emergence of H7N9 avian influenza viruses (AIV) in early 2013 in China, active surveillance of AIVs in migratory birds was undertaken, and two H7N7 strains were subsequently recovered from the fresh droppings of migratory birds; the strains were from different hosts and sampling sites. Phylogenetic and sequence similarity network analyses indicated that several genes of the two H7N7 viruses were closely related to those in AIVs circulating in domestic poultry, although different gene segments were implicated in the two isolates. This strongly suggested that genes from viruses infecting migratory birds have been introduced into poultry-infecting strains. A Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction of all eight segments implied that multiple reassortments have occurred in the evolution of these viruses, particularly during late 2011 and early 2014. Antigenic analysis using a hemagglutination inhibition test showed that the two H7N7 viruses were moderately cross-reactive with H7N9-specific anti-serum. The ability of the two H7N7 viruses to remain infectious under various pH and temperature conditions was evaluated, and the viruses persisted the longest at near-neutral pH and in cold temperatures. Animal infection experiments showed that the viruses were avirulent to mice and could not be recovered from any organs. Our results indicate that low pathogenic, divergent H7N7 viruses circulate within the East Asian-Australasian flyway. Virus dispersal between migratory birds and domestic poultry may increase the risk of the emergence of novel unprecedented strains.

Hybrid cis/trans Tetra-arylethenes with Switchable Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) and Reversible Photochromism in the Solution, PMMA Film, Solid Powder, and Single Crystal.

How to efficiently design and synthesize multifunctional molecules is particularly challenging. In this presentation, we devote to constructing a kind of simple structures with composite functionalities through straightforward preparation. Starting from common commercially available materials, the titled cis/trans-tetraarylethenes can be conveniently obtained by a one-pot process under mild conditions. The different configurations were confirmed by 1H NMR and single crystal data analysis. The trans-tetraarylethenes could be converted into cis-forms not only by photoirradiation but also by microwave irradiation, which provided us a new choice for isomeric conversion, especially in relation to light sensitivity. Results show that all the hybrid cis/trans-isomers performed switchable fluorescence and reversible photochromism in solution, PMMA film, solid powder, and single crystal. Moreover, these hybrid tetraarylethenes could be utilized as photoswitchable media to tune the behavior of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). These versatile properties are favorable for the potential applications in fluorescent photoswitches, nondestructive readout, and logic gates. We hope that our design strategy could provide a new protocol for constructing a kind of multifunctional molecules based some simple structure and convenient synthetic procedures.

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

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.

Rapid and Quantitative Detection of Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virions in Complex Matrices Based on Combined Magnetic Capture and Quantum Dot Labeling.

Avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, which emerged in China in the spring of 2013, has infected hundreds of people and resulted in many deaths. Herein, a rapid and quantitative assay is proposed for the one-step detection of H7N9 virions. Immunomagnetic nanospheres (IMNs) and antibody-conjugated quantum dots (Ab-QDs) are simultaneously employed to capture and identify the target virus, leading to a high efficiency, good specificity, and strong anti-interference ability. Moreover, this reliable detection assay, which combines the efficient magnetic enrichment and the unique photophysical properties of QDs, can achieve a high sensitivity for a low detection limit. At the same time, this detection strategy shows great flexibility for employment in a variety of fluorescence detectors, including fluorescence spectrometry, microscope assays, and handheld UV lamp tests. Furthermore, our one-step detection strategy induces very little change in the integrity of the vulnerable virions, which enables additional genotyping testing following the fluorescence detection. The present study, thus, reports a rapid and quantitative approach for the detection of H7N9 virions based on simultaneous magnetic capture and QD labeling, thereby providing a higher probability for detection and therefore faster diagnosis of H7N9-infected patients.

Biometallization-Based Electrochemical Magnetoimmunosensing Strategy for Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus Particle Detection.

A highly sensitive electrochemical immunosensor for avian influenza A (H7N9) virus (H7N9 AIV) detection was proposed by using electrochemical magnetoimmunoassay coupled with biometallization and anodic stripping voltammetry. This strategy could accumulate the enzyme-generated product on the surface of the magneto electrode by means of silver deposition, which amplified the detection signal about 80 times. The use of magnetic beads (MBs) and the magneto electrode could also amplify the detection signal. Furthermore, a bi-electrode signal transduction system was introduced into this immunosensor, which is also beneficial to the immunoassay. A concentration as low as 0.011 ng mL(-1) of H7N9 AIV could be detected in about 1.5 h with good specificity. This study not only provides a simple and sensitive approach for virus detection but also offers an effective signal enhancement strategy for the development of highly sensitive MB-based electrochemical immunoassays.

Bifunctional magnetic nanobeads for sensitive detection of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus based on immunomagnetic separation and enzyme-induced metallization.

Bifunctional magnetic nanobeads (bi-MBs) were fabricated by co-immobilizing target recognition molecules and signal molecules on a magnetic nanobead surface, which were used as both separation and enrichment carriers and signal carriers. The bi-MBs could capture and separate avian influenza A (H7N9) virus (H7N9 AIV) from complex samples efficiently based on the specific reaction between antigen-antibody and their good magnetic response, which simplified sample pretreatment and saved the detection time. Taking advantages of their high surface to volume ratio and rich surface functional groups, multiple alkaline phosphatase (ALP) signal molecules were tethered on the surface of bi-MBs which greatly amplified the detection signal. As an efficient signal amplification strategy, enzyme-induced metallization had been integrated with bi-MBs and anodic stripping voltammetry to construct an ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor for H7N9 AIV detection. Under the optimal conditions, the introduction of bi-MBs could amplify the detection signal in about four times compared with the same immunoassay without MBs, and the method showed a wide linear range of 0.01-20 ng/mL with a detection limit of 6.8 pg/mL. The electrochemical immunosensor provides a simple and reliable platform with high sensitivity and selectivity which shows great potential in early diagnosis of diseases.

Comparative analysis of antibody induction and protection against influenza virus infection by DNA immunization with HA, HAe, and HA1 in mice.

Plasmid DNA vaccines are considered alternatives to inactivated influenza virus vaccines to control influenza. Vaccination with a hemagglutinin (HA)-, HA ectodomain (HAe)-, or HA subunit 1 (HA1)-based vaccine can stimulate protective immunity in animals. The aim of this study was to compare their capacity to induce an antibody response and protection against influenza virus infection in mice after DNA vaccination. We constructed three expression vectors encoding full-length HA, HAe, or HA1 of the A/California/07/2009 influenza A virus and designed three animal experiments: (i) BALB/c mice were immunized twice with 30 µg of the HA, HAe, or HA1 DNA vaccine with high-voltage electroporation (100 V), and 3 weeks after boosting, they were challenged with a lethal dose of virus. (ii) Immunization and challenge were as in experiment i, but with low-voltage electroporation (10 V). (iii) Mice were immunized once with 50 µg of DNA and challenged 1 week later. The immunogenic effects of the three DNA vaccines were evaluated in terms of antibody titer, survival rate, bodyweight change, and lung viral titer. In all three experiments, both HA and HAe induced higher antibody and neutralization titers than HA1. Following challenge with a lethal mouse-adapted homologous virus, both HA and HAe reduced the viral titers in lung washes or offered better protection from weight loss than HA1 in experiments ii and iii. Thus, HA1 induces a lower immune response than HA or HAe when used as a DNA vaccination. Our data should be valuable in choosing the optimal candidate vaccine when faced with the threat of pandemic influenza.

Avian influenza A(H7N9) virus screening in patients with fever and flu-like symptoms in a tertiary hospital in an area with confirmed cases.

Novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus was isolated in fatal patients in Yangtze River Delta of China in March 2013. We aimed to screen the virus in febrile patients in a tertiary hospital in an area with confirmed cases. Throat-swab specimens collected from consecutive patients with fever (≥38°C) and flu-like symptoms from April 15 to April 25, 2013 were subjected to detect novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus with real-time PCR. The clinical outcomes in the patients and close contacts were followed up. Of total 200 patients screened, one (0.5%) was positive for avian influenza A(H7N9) virus and 199 others were negative. The infected patient experienced respiratory failure and had diffuse infiltrates in the right lower lobe in chest CT images. He received symptomatic and antibacterial treatments as well as oseltamivir. His condition was substantially improved within three days after admission; avian influenza A(H7N9) virus was not detected after 5 days' antiviral therapy. The hemagglutinin inhibition test showed that the serum titers against avian influenza A(H7N9) virus increased from <1∶20 at the early phase to 1∶80 at the convalescent phase. Follow-up of 23 close contacts showed that none of them developed fever and other symptoms within two weeks. Our findings suggest that although the infection rate of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in patients with fever and flu-like symptoms is rare, the screening is valuable to rapidly define the infection, which will be critical to improve the clinical outcomes.

Genome Sequence of a Reassortant H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Domestic Green-Winged Teal.

An avian influenza virus strain, A/domestic green-winged teal/Hunan/3450/2006(H5N1) (DGW-T3450), was isolated from domestic green-winged teals. Genome analysis demonstrated that DGW-T3450 is a novel reassortant strain. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of this strain originated from H5N1 viruses circulating in poultry, while its remaining genes are derived from multiple ancestors, including viruses like those that infect wild birds.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Reassortant H3N6 Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Domestic Green-Winged Teal.

An avian influenza virus strain, A/domestic green-winged teal/Hunan/2036/2007(H3N6) (DGW-T2036), was isolated from healthy domestic green-winged teals (Anas crecca) in Hunan Province, South China. All eight gene segments of the isolate were sequenced. Genomic analysis demonstrated that this H3N6 virus is a novel reassortant avian influenza virus with a gene constellation originating from multiple ancestors.