Adaptation of an H7N7 equine influenza A virus in mice

Wild waterfowl are a reservoir for influenza A viruses, which can be transmitted from these birds to other animal species. Occasionally, influenza A viruses are transmitted to other animal species from animals other than wild waterfowl, e.g. an equine influenza virus has been transmitted to dogs and caused outbreaks. To understand the molecular mechanism by which influenza A viruses adapt to a new animal species, the molecular changes involved in the adaptation of an H7N7 equine influenza A virus were studied in mice. Mutations in the mouse-adapted virus mapped to one amino acid change in the PA protein, one in PB2 and two in PB1. Of these mutations, the Glu-to-Lys substitution at position 627 of PB2 (PB2-E627K) increased virulence appreciably. To understand the mechanism of this increased virulence, a recombinant virus expressing a reporter green fluorescent protein was constructed, thus enabling the effect of this mutation on viral protein expression to be tested in the context of virus replication in situ. It was found that the PB2-E627K substitution in this equine virus contributed to increased viral protein expression and virus replication in mouse cells and enhanced brain invasiveness in mice. These results demonstrate that the importance of the PB2-E627K substitution for mouse adaptation, which was identified previously in human H5N1 isolates, extends to equine influenza A virus.