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Review
. 2013 Dec 5;178(1):15-20.
doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2013.07.017. Epub 2013 Aug 13.

Transmission of influenza A/H5N1 viruses in mammals

M Imai  1 , S Herfst, E M Sorrell, E J A Schrauwen, M Linster, M De Graaf, R A M Fouchier, Y Kawaoka
Affiliations
Review

Transmission of influenza A/H5N1 viruses in mammals

M Imai et al. Virus Res. .

Abstract

Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza A viruses occasionally infect humans and cause severe respiratory disease and fatalities. Currently, these viruses are not efficiently transmitted from person to person, although limited human-to-human transmission may have occurred. Nevertheless, further adaptation of avian H5N1 influenza A viruses to humans and/or reassortment with human influenza A viruses may result in aerosol transmissible viruses with pandemic potential. Although the full range of factors that modulate the transmission and replication of influenza A viruses in humans are not yet known, we are beginning to understand some of the molecular changes that may allow H5N1 influenza A viruses to transmit via aerosols or respiratory droplets among mammals. A better understanding of the biological basis and genetic determinants that confer transmissibility to H5N1 influenza A viruses in mammals is important to enhance our pandemic preparedness.

Keywords: Airborne transmission; Avian H5N1 influenza A virus; Mammalian model.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Localization of amino acid changes identified in studies by Herfst et al. (2012) and Imai et al. (2012) on the three-dimensional structure of the trimer of A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1) HA (Protein data bank (PDB) code, 2FK0)
The mutations that support transmission via aerosols or respiratory droplets in ferrets are shown in red. All mutations are shown with H3 numbering. The human receptor analog (derived from its complex with H9 HA (PDB, 1JSI); shown in orange) is docked into the structure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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