Publications (44)187.7 Total impact
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Article: MDCK cell culture-derived formalin-inactivated influenza whole virion vaccine from an influenza virus library conferred cross-protective immunity by intranasal administration in mice.
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ABSTRACT: It is so far impossible to predict the next pandemic influenza virus strain. We have thus established a library of influenza viruses of all the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtypes and their genes. In this article we examine the applicability of a rapid production model for the preparation of vaccines against the emergence of pandemic influenzas. This procedure utilizes the influenza virus library, cell culture-based vaccine production, and intranasal administration to induce a cross-protective immune response. First, an influenza virus reassortant from the library, A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-3/2007 (H5N1), was passaged 22 times (P22) in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The P22 virus had a titer of more than 2 ×10(8) plaque-forming units/ml, which was 40 times that of the original strain, with 4 point mutations, which altered amino acids in the deduced protein sequences encoded by the PB2 and PA genes. We then produced a formalin-inactivated whole virion vaccine from the MDCK-cell cultured A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-3/2007 (H5N1) P22. The intranasal immunization of mice with this vaccine protected them against the challenge with lethal influenza viruses of homologous and heterologous subtypes. We further demonstrated that intranasal immunization with the vaccine induced a cross-reactive neutralizing antibody response against the homotypic H5N1 influenza virus and its antigenic variants, and cross-reactive cell-mediated immune responses to the homologous virus, its variants within an intrasubtype, and even to an influenza virus of a different subtype. These results indicate that a rapid model for emergency vaccine production may be effective for producing the next generation of pandemic influenza vaccines.Clinical and vaccine immunology: CVI 05/2013; · 2.37 Impact Factor -
Article: Antiviral activity of stachyflin on influenza a viruses of different hemagglutinin subtypes.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza viruses is a possible target for antiviral drugs because of its key roles in the initiation of infection. Although it was found that a natural compound, Stachyflin, inhibited the growth of H1 and H2 but not H3 influenza viruses in MDCK cells, inhibitory activity of the compound has not been assessed against H4-H16 influenza viruses and the precise mechanism of inhibition has not been clarified. METHODS: Inhibitory activity of Stachyflin against H4-H16 influenza viruses, as well as H1-H3 viruses was examined in MDCK cells. To identify factors responsible for the susceptibility of the viruses to this compound, Stachyflin-resistant viruses were selected in MDCK cells and used for computer docking simulation. RESULTS: It was found that in addition to antiviral activity of Stachyflin against influenza viruses of H1 and H2 subtypes, it inhibited replication of viruses of H5 and H6 subtypes, as well as A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in MDCK cells. Stachyflin also inhibited the virus growth in the lungs of mice infected with A/WSN/1933 (H1N1) and A/chicken/Ibaraki/1/2005 (H5N2). Substitution of amino acid residues was found on the HA2 subunit of Stachyflin-resistant viruses. Docking simulation indicated that D37, K51, T107, and K121 are responsible for construction of the cavity for the binding of the compound. In addition, 3-dimensional structure of the cavity of the HA of Stachyflin-susceptible virus strains was different from that of insusceptible virus strains. CONCLUSION: Antiviral activity of Stachyflin was found against A(H1N1)pdm09, H5, and H6 viruses, and identified a potential binding pocket for Stachyflin on the HA. The present results should provide us with useful information for the development of HA inhibitors with more effective and broader spectrum.Virology Journal 04/2013; 10(1):118. · 2.34 Impact Factor -
Article: Proteins of duck influenza virus responsible for acquisition of pathogenicity in chickens.
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ABSTRACT: Influenza virus rgVac1sub-P0 (H5N1) (rgVac1-P0), in which a pair of dibasic amino acid residues was introduced at the cleavage site of the HA of a reassortant of H5N2 and H7N1 viruses of duck origin, was low pathogenic in chickens. Vac1sub-P3 (H5N1) (Vac1-P3) was selected as a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus by 3 consecutive passages in chickens from low pathogenic strain rgVac1-P0. Comparison of amino acid sequences of the virus proteins and experimental infection of chickens with a series of recombinant viruses demonstrated that in addition to the HA, each of the PA, NP, M1, and M2 of Vac1-P3 are responsible for the acquisition of pathogenicity in chickens. These 4 proteins of Vac1-P3 synergistically contributed to efficient virus replication in chickens.Virus Research 02/2013; · 2.94 Impact Factor -
Article: Potency of an inactivated influenza vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic H5N1 virus against a challenge with antigenically drifted highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in chickens.
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ABSTRACT: Antigenic variants of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) have selected and are prevailing in poultry populations in Asia. In the present study, the potency of inactivated influenza vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-3/2007 (H5N1), was assessed by challenging with H5N1 HPAIV variants, A/muscovy duck/Vietnam/OIE-559/2011 (H5N1), A/whooper swan/Hokkaido/4/2011 (H5N1), and A/peregrine falcon/Hong Kong/810/2009 (H5N1) belonging to clades 1, 2.3.2.1, and 2.3.4, respectively. All chickens immunized with the Vac-3 vaccine survived without showing any clinical signs after intranasal challenge either with A/whooper swan/Hokkaido/4/2011 (H5N1) or A/muscovy duck/Vietnam/OIE-559/2011 (H5N1). After challenge with A/peregrine falcon/Hong Kong/810/2009 (H5N1), 10 out of 12 vaccinated chickens survived and the other 2 died on 4 or 7 post-challenge days. The Vac-3 vaccine of 2.4-fold antigen concentration conferred complete protective immunity in chickens against challenge with A/peregrine falcon/Hong Kong/810/2009 (H5N1).Veterinary Microbiology 02/2013; · 3.33 Impact Factor -
Article: Potency of a vaccine prepared from A/swine/Hokkaido/2/1981 (H1N1) against A/Narita/1/2009 (H1N1) pandemic influenza virus strain.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The pandemic 2009 (H1N1) influenza virus has spread throughout the world and is now causing seasonal influenza. To prepare for the emergence of pandemic influenza, we have established a library of virus strains isolated from birds, pigs, and humans in global surveillance studies. METHODS: Inactivated whole virus particle (WV) and ether-split (ES) vaccines were prepared from an influenza virus strain, A/swine/Hokkaido/2/1981 (H1N1), from the library and from A/Narita/1/2009 (H1N1) pandemic strain. Each of the vaccines was injected subcutaneously into mice and their potencies were evaluated by challenge with A/Narita/1/2009 (H1N1) virus strain in mice. RESULTS: A/swine/Hokkaido/2/81 (H1N1), which was isolated from the lung of a diseased piglet, was selected on the basis of their antigenicity and growth capacity in embryonated chicken eggs. Two injections of the WV vaccine induced an immune response in mice, decreasing the impact of disease caused by the challenge with A/Narita/1/2009 (H1N1), as did the vaccine prepared from the homologous strain. CONCLUSION: The WV vaccine prepared from an influenza virus in the library is useful as an emergency vaccine in the early phase of pandemic influenza.Virology Journal 02/2013; 10(1):47. · 2.34 Impact Factor -
Article: The PB2, PA, HA, NP, and NS genes of a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A/whooper swan/Mongolia/3/2005 (H5N1) are responsible for pathogenicity in ducks.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Wild ducks are the natural hosts of influenza A viruses. Duck influenza, therefore, has been believed inapparent infection with influenza A viruses, including highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) in chickens. In fact, ducks experimentally infected with an HPAIV strain, A/Hong Kong/483/1997 (H5N1) (HK483), did not show any clinical signs. Another HPAIV strain, A/whooper swan/Mongolia/3/2005 (H5N1) (MON3) isolated from a dead swan, however, caused neurological dysfunction and death in ducks. METHOD: To understand the mechanism whereby MON3 shows high pathogenicity in ducks, HK483, MON3, and twenty-four reassortants generated between these two H5N1 viruses were compared for their pathogenicity in domestic ducks. RESULTS: None of the ducks infected with MON3-based single-gene reassortants bearing the PB2, NP, or NS gene segment of HK483 died, and HK483-based single-gene reassortants bearing PB2, NP, or NS genes of MON3 were not pathogenic in ducks, suggesting that multiple gene segments contribute to the pathogenicity of MON3 in ducks. All the ducks infected with the reassortant bearing PB2, PA, HA, NP, and NS gene segments of MON3 died within five days post-inoculation, as did those infected with MON3. Each of the viruses was assessed for replication in ducks three days post-inoculation. MON3 and multi-gene reassortants pathogenic in ducks were recovered from all of the tissues examined and replicated with high titers in the brains and lungs. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that multigenic factors are responsible for efficient replication of MON3 in ducks. In particular, virus growth in the brain might correlate with neurological dysfunction and the disease severity.Virology Journal 02/2013; 10(1):45. · 2.34 Impact Factor -
Article: Fluorescence polarization-based assay using N-glycan-conjugated quantum dots for screening in hemagglutinin blockers for influenza A viruses.
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ABSTRACT: Attachment of influenza virus to susceptible cells is mediated by viral protein hemagglutinin (HA), which recognizes cell surface glycoconjugates that terminate in α-sialosides. To develop anti-influenza drugs based on inhibition of HA-mediated infection, novel fluorescent nanoparticles displaying multiple biantennary N-glycan chains with α-sialosides (A2-PC-QDs) that have high affinity for the HA were designed and constructed. The A2-PC-QDs enabled an easy and efficient fluorescence polarization (FP) assay for detection of interaction with the HA and competitive inhibition even by small molecule compounds against A2-PC-QDs-HA binding. The quantum dot (QD)-based FP assay established in the present study is a useful tool for high-throughput screening and to accelerate the development of novel and more effective blockers of the viral attachment of influenza virus. (120 words).Journal of virological methods 11/2012; · 2.13 Impact Factor -
Article: The nucleoprotein is responsible for intracerebral pathogenicity of A/duck/Mongolia/47/2001 (H7N1) in chicks.
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ABSTRACT: Avian influenza viruses A/duck/Mongolia/47/2001 (H7N1) (47/01) and A/duck/Mongolia/867/2002 (H7N1) (867/02) were defined as low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) using an intravenous pathogenicity test in chickens. On the other hand, the intracerebral pathogenicity indices of 47/01 and 867/02 were 1.30 and 0.00, respectively. A series of reassortant viruses were generated between 47/01 and 867/02, and their intracerebral pathogenicity was compared in one-day-old chicks to identify the protein(s) responsible for the intracerebral pathogenicity of 47/01. The results indicate that the amino acids at positions 50 and 98 of the nucleoprotein are related to the pathogenicity of 47/01 in chicks by intracerebral inoculation. A significant association was found between mortality of the chicks inoculated intracerebrally with 47/01 and virus replication in the lungs and/or brain. These results indicate that the NP of avian influenza viruses may be responsible for intracerebral pathogenicity in the host.Archives of Virology 07/2012; · 2.11 Impact Factor -
Article: Selection of classical swine fever virus with enhanced pathogenicity reveals synergistic virulence determinants in E2 and NS4B.
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ABSTRACT: Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is the causative agent of classical swine fever (CSF), a highly contagious disease of pigs. There are numerous CSFV strains that differ in virulence, resulting in clinical disease with different degrees of severity. Low-virulent and moderately virulent isolates cause a mild and often chronic disease, while highly virulent isolates cause an acute and mostly lethal hemorrhagic fever. The live attenuated vaccine strain GPE(-) was produced by multiple passages of the virulent ALD strain in cells of swine, bovine, and guinea pig origin. With the aim of identifying the determinants responsible for the attenuation, the GPE(-) vaccine virus was readapted to pigs by serial passages of infected tonsil homogenates until prolonged viremia and typical signs of CSF were observed. The GPE(-)/P-11 virus isolated from the tonsils after the 11th passage in vivo had acquired 3 amino acid substitutions in E2 (T830A) and NS4B (V2475A and A2563V) compared with the virus before passages. Experimental infection of pigs with the mutants reconstructed by reverse genetics confirmed that these amino acid substitutions were responsible for the acquisition of pathogenicity. Studies in vitro indicated that the substitution in E2 influenced virus spreading and that the changes in NS4B enhanced the viral RNA replication. In conclusion, the present study identified residues in E2 and NS4B of CSFV that can act synergistically to influence virus replication efficiency in vitro and pathogenicity in pigs.Journal of Virology 06/2012; 86(16):8602-13. · 5.40 Impact Factor -
Article: Purification of human and avian influenza viruses using cellulose sulfate ester (Cellufine Sulfate) in the process of vaccine production.
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ABSTRACT: Affinity chromatography using sulfated, spherical cellulose beads (Cellufine Sulfate) was assessed for purification of influenza A and influenza B viruses. Recovery rates of viruses eluted from the beads were high for all tested virus strains. This method was also useful for removing chicken egg-derived impurities from allantoic fluids containing influenza viruses; the hemagglutination activity per amount of protein in the eluted sample was significantly higher than that in the applied sample. These results suggest that use of Cellufine Sulfate is a practical method for primary purification of influenza viruses in the process of influenza vaccine production.Microbiology and Immunology 04/2012; 56(7):490-5. · 1.30 Impact Factor -
Article: Memory immune responses against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus induced by a whole particle vaccine in cynomolgus monkeys carrying Mafa-A1*052:02.
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ABSTRACT: We made an H1N1 vaccine candidate from a virus library consisting of 144 ( = 16 HA×9 NA) non-pathogenic influenza A viruses and examined its protective effects against a pandemic (2009) H1N1 strain using immunologically naïve cynomolgus macaques to exclude preexisting immunity and to employ a preclinical study since preexisting immunity in humans previously vaccinated or infected with influenza virus might make comparison of vaccine efficacy difficult. Furthermore, macaques carrying a major histocompatibility complex class I molecule, Mafa-A1*052:02, were used to analyze peptide-specific CD8(+) T cell responses. Sera of macaques immunized with an inactivated whole particle formulation without addition of an adjuvant showed higher neutralization titers against the vaccine strain A/Hokkaido/2/1981 (H1N1) than did sera of macaques immunized with a split formulation. Neutralization activities against the pandemic strain A/Narita/1/2009 (H1N1) in sera of macaques immunized twice with the split vaccine reached levels similar to those in sera of macaques immunized once with the whole particle vaccine. After inoculation with the pandemic virus, the virus was detected in nasal samples of unvaccinated macaques for 6 days after infection and for 2.67 days and 5.33 days on average in macaques vaccinated with the whole particle vaccine and the split vaccine, respectively. After the challenge infection, recall neutralizing antibody responses against the pandemic virus and CD8(+) T cell responses specific for nucleoprotein peptide NP262-270 bound to Mafa-A1*052:02 in macaques vaccinated with the whole particle vaccine were observed more promptly or more vigorously than those in macaques vaccinated with the split vaccine. These findings demonstrated that the vaccine derived from our virus library was effective for pandemic virus infection in macaques and that the whole particle vaccine conferred more effective memory and broader cross-reactive immune responses to macaques against pandemic influenza virus infection than did the split vaccine.PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(5):e37220. · 4.09 Impact Factor -
Article: An H9N2 influenza virus vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic isolate from a migratory duck confers protective immunity in mice against challenge with an H9N2 virus isolated from a girl in Hong Kong.
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ABSTRACT: H9N2 influenza viruses circulate in wild birds and poultry in Eurasian countries, and have been isolated from pigs and humans in China. H9N2 viruses isolated from birds, pigs and humans have been classified into three sublineages based on antigenic and genetic features. Chicken antisera to H9N2 viruses of the Korean sublineage reacted with viruses of different sublineages by the hemagglutination-inhibition test. A test vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic A/duck/Hokkaido/49/1998 (H9N2) strain of the Korean sublineage, obtained from our influenza virus library, induced immunity in mice to reduce the impact of disease caused by the challenge with A/Hong Kong/1073/1999 (H9N2), which is of a different sublineage. The present results indicate that an inactivated whole virus vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic influenza virus from the library could be used as an emergency vaccine during the early stage of a pandemic caused by H9N2 infection.Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 11/2011; 74(4):441-7. · 0.85 Impact Factor -
Article: Reintroduction of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus by migratory water birds, causing poultry outbreaks in the 2010-2011 winter season in Japan.
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ABSTRACT: H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) was reintroduced and caused outbreaks in chickens in the 2010-2011 winter season in Japan, which had been free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since 2007 when HPAI outbreaks occurred and were controlled. On 14 October 2010 at Lake Ohnuma, Wakkanai, the northernmost part of Hokkaido, Japan, H5N1 HPAIVs were isolated from faecal samples of ducks flying from their nesting lakes in Siberia. Since then, in Japan, H5N1 HPAIVs have been isolated from 63 wild birds in 17 prefectures and caused HPAI outbreaks in 24 chicken farms in nine prefectures by the end of March in 2011. Each of these isolates was genetically closely related to the HPAIV isolates at Lake Ohnuma, and those in China, Mongolia, Russia and Korea, belonging to genetic clade 2.3.2.1. In addition, these isolates were genetically classified into three groups, suggesting that the viruses were transmitted by migratory water birds through at least three different routes from their northern territory to Japan. These isolates were antigenic variants, which is consistent with selection in poultry under the immunological pressure induced by vaccination. To prevent the perpetuation of viruses in the lakes where water birds nest in summer in Siberia, prompt eradication of HPAIVs in poultry is urgently needed in Asian countries where HPAI has not been controlled.Journal of General Virology 11/2011; 93(Pt 3):541-50. · 3.36 Impact Factor -
Article: Characterization of avian influenza viruses isolated from domestic ducks in Vietnam in 2009 and 2010.
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ABSTRACT: In the surveillance of avian influenza in Vietnam, 26 H9N2, 1 H3N2, 1 H3N8, 7 H4N6, 3 H11N3, and 1 H11N9 viruses were isolated from tracheal and cloacal swab samples of 300 domestic ducks in April 2009, and 1 H9N6 virus from 300 bird samples in March 2010. Out of the 27 H9 virus isolates, the hemagglutinins of 18 strains were genetically classified as belonging to the sublineage G1, and the other nine belonged to the Korean sublineage. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that one of the 27 H9 viruses was a reassortant in which the PB2 gene belonged to the Korean sublineage and the other seven genes belonged to the G1 sublineage. Three representative H9N2 viruses were intranasally inoculated into ducks, chickens, pigs, and mice. On the basis of experimental infection studies, it was found that each of the three viruses readily infected pigs and replicated in their upper respiratory tracts, and they infected chickens with slight replication. Viruses were recovered from the lungs of mice inoculated with two of the three isolates. The present results reveal that H9 avian influenza viruses are prevailing and genetic reassortment occurs among domestic ducks in Vietnam. It is recommended that careful surveillance of swine influenza with H9 viruses should be performed to prepare for pandemic influenza.Archives of Virology 11/2011; 157(2):247-57. · 2.11 Impact Factor -
Article: An H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus that invaded Japan through waterfowl migration.
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ABSTRACT: In 2010, an H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) was isolated from feces of apparently healthy ducks migrating southward in Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan. The H5N1 HPAIVs were subsequently detected in domestic and wild birds at multiple sites corresponding to the flyway of the waterfowl having stopovers in the Japanese archipelago. The Hokkaido isolate was genetically nearly identical to H5N1 HPAIVs isolated from swans in the spring of 2009 and 2010 in Mongolia, but less pathogenic in experimentally infected ducks than the 2009 Mongolian isolate. These findings suggest that H5N1 HPAIVs with relatively mild pathogenicity might be selected and harbored in the waterfowl population during the 2009-2010 migration seasons. Our data provide "early warning" signals for preparedness against the unprecedented situation in which the waterfowl reservoirs serve as perpetual sources and disseminators of HPAIVs.The Japanese journal of veterinary research 08/2011; 59(2-3):89-100. · 0.46 Impact Factor -
Article: Antigenic and genetic analysis of H3N8 influenza viruses isolated from horses in Japan and Mongolia, and imported from Canada and Belgium during 2007-2010.
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ABSTRACT: A/equine/Kanazawa/1/2007 (H3N8), A/equine/Hokkaido/I828/2008 (H3N8) and A/equine/Mongolia/1/2008 (H3N8) were isolated from infected horses. A/equine/Yokohama/aq19/2009 (H3N8) and A/equine/Yokohama/aq13/2010 (H3N8) were isolated from horses imported from Canada and Belgium examined at the Animal Quarantine Service in Yokohama, Japan. In the present study, these five isolates were genetically and antigenically analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes showed that three isolates from horses in Japan and imported from Canada belonged to the same branch, clade 1 of the Florida sublineage, while the isolates from horses in Mongolia and imported from Belgium belonged to another branch, clade 2 of the Florida sublineage. Reactivity patterns of a panel of monoclonal antibodies to the HA of A/equine/Kanazawa/1/2007 (H3N8) with the five isolates indicate that the HAs of these viruses were antigenically similar to each other and to the reference strains A/equine/La Plata/1/1993 (H3N8) and A/equine/Avesta/1/1993 (H3N8). The present findings indicate that extensive antigenic variation has not accumulated among H3N8 influenza viruses in horses.Archives of Virology 04/2011; 156(8):1379-85. · 2.11 Impact Factor -
Article: H9N2 influenza virus acquires intravenous pathogenicity on the introduction of a pair of di-basic amino acid residues at the cleavage site of the hemagglutinin and consecutive passages in chickens.
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ABSTRACT: Outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) caused by infection with low pathogenic H9N2 viruses have occurred in poultry, resulting in serious economic losses in Asia and the Middle East. It has been difficult to eradicate the H9N2 virus because of its low pathogenicity, frequently causing in apparent infection. It is important for the control of AI to assess whether the H9N2 virus acquires pathogenicity as H5 and H7 viruses. In the present study, we investigated whether a non-pathogenic H9N2 virus, A/chicken/Yokohama/aq-55/2001 (Y55) (H9N2), acquires pathogenicity in chickens when a pair of di-basic amino acid residues is introduced at the cleavage site of its HA molecule. rgY55sub (H9N2), which had four basic amino acid residues at the HA cleavage site, replicated in MDCK cells in the absence of trypsin after six consecutive passages in the air sacs of chicks, and acquired intravenous pathogenicity to chicken after four additional passages. More than 75% of chickens inoculated intravenously with the passaged virus, rgY55sub-P10 (H9N2), died, indicating that it is pathogenic comparable to that of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) defined by World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The chickens inoculated with the virus via the intranasal route, however, survived without showing any clinical signs. On the other hand, an avirulent H5N1 strain, A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-1/2004 (Vac1) (H5N1), acquired intranasal pathogenicity after a pair of di-basic amino acid residues was introduced into the cleavage site of the HA, followed by two passages by air sac inoculation in chicks. The present results demonstrate that an H9N2 virus has the potential to acquire intravenous pathogenicity in chickens although the morbidity via the nasal route of infection is lower than that of H5N1 HPAIV.Virology Journal 02/2011; 8(1):64. · 2.34 Impact Factor -
Article: Virological surveillance and phylogenetic analysis of the PB2 genes of influenza viruses isolated from wild water birds flying from their nesting lakes in Siberia to Hokkaido, Japan in autumn.
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ABSTRACT: Recent introduction of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) in wild birds from poultry in Eurasia signaled the possibility that this virus may perpetuate in nature. Surveillance of avian influenza especially in migratory birds, therefore, has been conducted to provide information on the viruses brought by them to Hokkaido, Japan, from their nesting lakes in Siberia in autumn. During 2008-2009, 62 influenza viruses of 21 different combinations of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtypes were isolated. Up to September 2010, no HPAIV has been found, indicating that H5N1 HPAIV has not perpetuated at least dominantly in the lakes where ducks nest in summer in Siberia. The PB2 genes of 54 influenza viruses out of 283 influenza viruses isolated in Hokkaido in 2000-2009 were phylogenetically analysed. None of the genes showed close relation to those of H5N1 HPAIVs that were detected in wild birds found dead in Eurasia on the way back to their northern territory in spring.The Japanese journal of veterinary research 02/2011; 59(1):15-22. · 0.46 Impact Factor -
Article: A vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus strain from the influenza virus library conferred protective immunity to chickens against the challenge with antigenically drifted highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.
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ABSTRACT: Inactivated influenza virus vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic influenza virus strain A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-1/2004 (H5N1) from the virus library conferred protective immunity to chickens against the challenge of antigenically drifted highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), A/whooper swan/Hokkaido/1/2008 (H5N1). The efficacy of the vaccine was comparable to that prepared from genetically modified HPAIV strain deltaRRRRK rg-A/ whooper swan/Mongolia/3/2005 (H5N1), which is more antigenically related to the challenge virus strain, in chickens.The Japanese journal of veterinary research 02/2011; 59(1):23-9. · 0.46 Impact Factor -
Article: A low pathogenic H5N2 influenza virus isolated in Taiwan acquired high pathogenicity by consecutive passages in chickens.
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ABSTRACT: H5N2 viruses were isolated from cloacal swab samples of apparently healthy chickens in Taiwan in 2003 and 2008 during surveillance of avian influenza. Each of the viruses was eradicated by stamping out. The official diagnosis report indicated that the Intravenous Pathogenicity Indexes (IVPIs) of the isolates were 0.00 and 0.89, respectively, indicating that these were low pathogenic strains, although the hemagglutinin of the strain isolated in 2008 (Taiwan08) had multibasic amino acid residues at the cleavage site (PQRKKR/G). In the present study, these H5N2 viruses were assessed for their intravenous and intranasal pathogenicity for chickens. It was examined whether Taiwan08 acquires pathogenicity through consecutive passages in chickens. Intravenous pathogenicity of Taiwan08 depended upon the age of the chickens used for the IVPI test; all of the eight-week-old chickens intravenously inoculated with Taiwan08 showed clinical signs but survived for ten days post inoculation (IVPI=0.68), whereas all the six-week-old chickens died (IVPI=1.86). Taiwan08-P8, which were passaged in chickens for eight times, killed all the eight-week-old chickens (IVPI=2.36). The four-week-old chickens died after intranasal inoculation of Taiwan08-P8, indicating that Taiwan08 must have become highly pathogenic during circulation in chicken flocks. These results emphasize the importance of a stamping out policy for avian influenza even if the IVPI of the causal virus is low.Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 02/2011; 73(6):767-72. · 0.85 Impact Factor
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
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2008–2013
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Hokkaido University
- • Department of Disease Control
- • Laboratory of Microbiology
Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido, Japan
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2009
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Kyoto Biken Laboratories
Uji, Kyoto-fu, Japan
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2007–2009
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National Institute of Animal Health
Ibaraki, Osaka-fu, Japan
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