Basis research in evolutionary mechanism of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23791134
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Infectious disease medicine
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: WATANABE Yohei 大阪大学, 微生物病研究所, 助教 (50452462)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): IKUTA Kazuyoshi 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 招へい教授 (60127181) ; NAKAYA Takaaki 京都府立医科大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (80271633) ; DAIDOJI Tomo 京都府立医科大学, 医学研究科, 助教 (80432433) ; SUZUKI Yasuo 中部大学, 生命健康科学部, 教授 (00046278) ; TAKAHASHI Kazuo 大阪府立公衆衛生研究所, 感染症部, 部長 (10171472)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 国際感染症 / ウイルス学 / 人獣共通感染症 / インフルエンザウイルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have searched mutations that H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses acquired during their dissemination in Egypt. The results showed that specific sublineage viruses in Egypt have acquired HA mutations that enhanced their human-type receptor binding affinity. The mutations also conferred a higher virulence in the infected mice. Our finding suggested that H5N1 viruses could acquire mutations that increase the infectivity toward humans during their transmission in birds.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学