Evidence for a novel gene associated with human influenza A viruses

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dc.contributor.authorClifford, Monica
dc.contributor.authorTwigg, James
dc.contributor.authorUpton, Christopher
dc.date.accessioned2013-11-19T22:35:00Z
dc.date.available2013-11-19T22:35:00Z
dc.date.copyright2009en_US
dc.date.issued2009-11-16
dc.descriptionBioMed Centralen_US
dc.description.abstractBackground: Influenza A virus genomes are comprised of 8 negative strand single-stranded RNA segments and are thought to encode 11 proteins, which are all translated from mRNAs complementary to the genomic strands. Although human, swine and avian influenza A viruses are very similar, cross-species infections are usually limited. However, antigenic differences are considerable and when viruses become established in a different host or if novel viruses are created by re-assortment devastating pandemics may arise. Results: Examination of influenza A virus genomes from the early 20th Century revealed the association of a 167 codon ORF encoded by the genomic strand of segment 8 with human isolates. Close to the timing of the 1948 pseudopandemic, a mutation occurred that resulted in the extension of this ORF to 216 codons. Since 1948, this ORF has been almost totally maintained in human influenza A viruses suggesting a selectable biological function. The discovery of cytotoxic T cells responding to an epitope encoded by this ORF suggests that it is translated into protein. Evidence of several other non-traditionally translated polypeptides in influenza A virus support the translation of this genomic strand ORF. The gene product is predicted to have a signal sequence and two transmembrane domains. Conclusion: We hypothesize that the genomic strand of segment 8 of encodes a novel influenza A virus protein. The persistence and conservation of this genomic strand ORF for almost a century in human influenza A viruses provides strong evidence that it is translated into a polypeptide that enhances viral fitness in the human host. This has important consequences for the interpretation of experiments that utilize mutations in the NS1 and NEP genes of segment 8 and also for the consideration of events that may alter the spread and/or pathogenesis of swine and avian influenza A viruses in the human population.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was supported by a Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council Discovery Grant of Canada and NIAID grant HHSN266200400036C.en_US
dc.identifier.citationClifford et al. Evidence for a novel gene associated with human influenza A viruses.Virology Journal 2009 6:198en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://www.virologyj.com/content/6/1/198
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1743-422X-6-198
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/5035
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherBioMed Centralen_US
dc.subject.departmentDepartment of Biochemistry and Microbiology
dc.titleEvidence for a novel gene associated with human influenza A virusesen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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