Matthew L Turnbull, Helen M Wise, Marlynne Q Nicol, Nikki Smith, Rebecca L Dunfee, Philippa M Beard, Brett W Jagger, Yvonne Ligertwood, Gareth R Hardisty, Haixia Xiao, Donald J Benton, Alice M Coburn, Joao A Paulo, Steven P Gygi, John W McCauley, Jeffery K Taubenberger, Samantha J Lycett, Michael P Weekes, Bernadette M Dutia, Paul Digard
UNLABELLED: Two alleles of segment 8 (NS) circulate in nonchiropteran influenza A viruses. The A allele is found in avian and mammalian viruses, but the B allele is viewed as being almost exclusively found in avian viruses. This might reflect the fact that one or both of its encoded proteins (NS1 and NEP) are maladapted for replication in mammalian hosts. To test this, a number of clade A and B avian virus-derived NS segments were introduced into human H1N1 and H3N2 viruses. In no case was the peak virus titer substantially reduced following infection of various mammalian cell types...
October 15, 2016: Journal of Virology