Roles of the hemagglutinin in pathogenicity of influenza virus

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25450422
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Veterinary medical science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Tokiko 東京大学, 医科学研究所, 特任准教授 (60557479)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: インフルエンザウイルス / ヘマグルチニン / 病原性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The 1918 pandemic influenza virus caused fatal pneumonia and an estimated 20-50 million deaths worldwide. To understand roles of the HA gene in efficient replication and high virulence of the 1918 virus, we examined the biological properties of reassortant viruses between the 1918 virus and a contemporary human H1N1 virus (A/Kawasaki/173/2001; K173) in a mouse model. In addition to the 1918 HA, we demonstrated the role of viral RNA replication complex in efficient replication of viruses in mouse lungs, whereas only HA gene is responsible for lethality in mice. Increased expression of genes associated with the acute phase response and protein ubiquitination pathway were enriched during 1918 and 1918HA/K173 infections. These data suggest HA and the viral RNA polymerase complex are critical determinants of 1918 influenza pathogenesis, but only HA is responsible for extreme host responses observed in mice infected with the 1918 influenza virus.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学