AUTHOR=Jiang Lina , Li Jiaming , Cui Huan , Zhang Cheng , Jin Yifei , Fu Yingying , Ma Ningning , Tang Fei , Zhang Yidun , Zheng Jing , Li Li , Lu Bing , Chen Zehui , Guo Zhendong , Wang Zhongyi 

TITLE=Etiologic characteristics of avian influenza H11 viruses isolated from the live poultry market in southeast coastal region in China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1002670

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.1002670

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=Since it was first identified in 1956, H11subvariant influenza virus has been reported worldwide for several decades. However, due to the low pathogenicity of the H11 subvariant and it has never been widespread transmission among humans, there are few reports on the etiology of H11 subvariant influenza virus. Here, we isolated a strain of H11N3 avian influenza virus (AIV) from poultry feces in live poultry markets in the southeast coastal region in China. Considering that H11 subvariants were known to cause human infections and in order to enrich the knowledge of H11 subvariant avian influenza viruses, the genetics, pathogenicity and transmissibility of the isolate were studied. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the H11N3 isolate was of Eurasian origin and carried genes that were closely related to duck H7N2 and H4N6. The receptor-binding preference analysis revealed that the H11N3 isolate only acquired binding affinity for avian-derived receptors. In the respiratory system of mice, the isolate could direct infect mice without adaptation. In addition, results from transmission experiments and detection of antibodies in guinea pigs demonstrated that the H11N3 influenza viruses transmit efficiently through the respiratory tract in mammalian models. Direct infection of the H11N3 influenza virus without adaptation in mouse models and aerosol transmission between guinea pig models confirm its pandemic potential in mammals, underscoring the importance of monitoring rare influenza virus subtypes in future studies.