Mouse adaptation of influenza B virus increases replication in the upper respiratory tract and results in droplet transmissibility in ferrets

• DOI: 10.1038/srep15940
• Publication Date: 2015-11-03T10:16:04Z
• Authors: Eun-Ha Kim; Su-Jin Park; Hyeok-Il Kwon; Se Mi Kim; Young-il Kim; Min-Suk Song; Eun-Ji Choi; Philippe Noriel Q...; Young-Ki Choi
• Keywords: Respiratory tract

Abstract To investigate the molecular changes that allow influenza B viruses to adapt new mammalian hosts, B/Florida/04/2006 was serially passaged in BALB/c mice until highly virulent. The viral factors underlying this transition were then investigated and ferrets. Five viruses, including wild-type virus (P0), three intermediate (P5, P9 P12) a lethal mouse-adapted (P17 (MA)), harbored one five amino acid substitutions hemagglutinin, M, NP PA segments suggesting these mutations enhance virulence. P17 (MA) replicated significantly more efficiently than P0 both vitro vivo (P < 0.0001) virulent (MLD 50 : 10 5.25 TCID ) while P0, P5 did not kill any infected > 6.0 ). Furthermore, grew greater titers ferret upper respiratory tract compared with only transmissible between ferrets via direct aerosol contact. our knowledge, is first study demonstrate ferret-to-ferret transmission of delineate may affect its transmission.