TY - JOUR T1 - Genetic Compatibility and Virulence of Reassortants Derived from Contemporary Avian H5N1 and Human H3N2 Influenza A Viruses A1 - Chen, Li-Mei A1 - Davis, C. Todd A1 - Zhou, Hong A1 - Cox, Nancy J. A1 - Donis, Ruben O. Y1 - 2008/05/23 N2 - Author SummaryThe influenza pandemics of 1957 and 1968 were caused by hybrid viruses consisting of a mixture of human and avian influenza genes. The introduction of avian genes resulted in a sudden change of the virus surface antigens, allowing its worldwide spread due to lack of immunity in the population. The highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus has continued its spread in domestic and wild birds in Asia, Europe, and Africa. Although H5N1 infection in humans is rare and person-to-person transmission is very inefficient, the steady accumulation of human cases has raised concern over the possible reassortment between H5N1 and human seasonal influenza resulting in a virus with new surface antigens and pandemic potential. In this study, we used recombinant DNA technology to generate a systematic collection of hybrid viruses (with genes from human and avian viruses) bearing H5N1 surface antigens and analyzed their properties in cell culture and in mice. The H5N1 hybrid viruses revealed a broad range of viability and multiplication capacity in cell cultures. In addition, several H5N1 hybrid viruses were highly virulent in mice. Results from this systematic analysis provide important insight to support risk assessment of reassortant H5N1 avian influenza viruses. JF - PLOS Pathogens JA - PLOS Pathogens VL - 4 IS - 5 UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1000072 SP - e1000072 EP - PB - Public Library of Science M3 - doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000072 ER -