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. 2017 May 11;22(19):30533.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.19.30533.

Biological characterisation of the emerged highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H7N9) viruses in humans, in mainland China, 2016 to 2017

Wenfei Zhu  1   2 , Jianfang Zhou  1   2 , Zi Li  1   2 , Lei Yang  1 , Xiyan Li  1 , Weijuan Huang  1 , Sumei Zou  1 , Wenbing Chen  1 , Hejiang Wei  1 , Jing Tang  1 , Liqi Liu  1 , Jie Dong  1 , Dayan Wang  1 , Yuelong Shu  1
Affiliations

Biological characterisation of the emerged highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H7N9) viruses in humans, in mainland China, 2016 to 2017

Wenfei Zhu et al. Euro Surveill. .

Abstract

With no or low virulence in poultry, avian influenza A(H7N9) virus has caused severe infections in humans. In the current fifth epidemic wave, a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H7N9 virus emerged. The insertion of four amino acids (KRTA) at the haemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site enabled trypsin-independent infectivity of this virus. Although maintaining dual receptor-binding preference, its HA antigenicity was distinct from low-pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N9). The neuraminidase substitution R292K conferred a multidrug resistance phenotype.

Keywords: Antigenic analysis; Drug sensitivity; HPAI; Highly pathogenic H7N9 viruses; Receptor binding profile.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Replication of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses from humans in MDCK cells with or without TPCK trypsin, China, 2016­–2017 (n = 2)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Direct glycan receptor binding of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses from humans, China, 2016–2017 (n =2)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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