Influenza A Virus Coinfection through Transmission Can Support High Levels of Reassortment.

摘要: UNLABELLED The reassortment of gene segments between influenza viruses increases genomic diversity and plays an important role in viral evolution. We have shown previously that this process is highly efficient within a coinfected cell and, given synchronous coinfection at moderate or high doses, can give rise to ~60 70% progeny shed from animal host. Conversely, vivo be rendered undetectable by lowering doses extending the time infections. One might also predict seeding transmitted into different sites target tissue could limit subsequent reassortment. Given potential for stochastic factors restrict during natural infection, we sought determine its efficiency host through transmission. Two scenarios were tested guinea pig model, using A/Panama/2007/99 (H3N2) virus (wt) silently mutated variant (var) thereof as parental strains. In first, was achieved exposing naive two cagemates, one infected with wt other var virus. When such exposure led coinfection, robust typically seen, 50 100% isolates carrying reassortant genomes more points. second scenario, pigs exposed cagemate had been coinoculated viruses. Here, occurred donor host, multiple variants transmitted, reassortants prevalent recipient Together, these results demonstrate immense generate nature. IMPORTANCE Influenza evolve rapidly under selection due generation mechanisms. first introduction random errors genome polymerase, which occurs frequency approximately 10(-5) errors/nucleotide replicated. reassortment, exchange Reassortment known occur readily well-controlled laboratory conditions, but nature not clear. hypothesis following transmission would reduced compared seen coinoculation. Contrary hypothesis, our indicate supports levels These suggest exquisitely sensitive effects associated likely whenever productively than A