Influenza A (H6N6) virus isolated from chickens replicate in mice and
human lungs without prior adaptation
Abstract
H6H6 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) is currently prevalent in wild
birds and poultry. Its host range has gradually expanded to the mammals,
such as swine. Some strains of H6N6 AIV have even acquired the ability
to bind to human-like receptors SA-α2, 6Gal, thus increasing the risk of
animal-human transmission. To investigate whether H6N6 AIV can cross
interspecies barriers from poultry to mammals and even humans, we
assessed the molecular characteristics, receptor-binding preference,
replication in mice, and the human lung of three chicken-originated H6N6
strains. Among the three chicken-originated H6N6 strains,
A/CK/ZZ/346/2014 (ZZ346) virus with P186T, H156R, S263G mutation of
hemagglutinin (HA) showed the ability to bind to avian-like SAα-2,3Gal
and human-like SAα-2,6Gal receptors. Moreover, H6N6 viruses, especially
the ZZ346 strain, could replicate and infect mice and human lungs. Our
study detected the H6N6 virus favorable to bind to both avian-like
SAα-2,3Gal and human-like SAα-2,6Gal receptors, verified its ability to
cross the species barrier to infect mice, and verified to infect human
lungs without prior adaptation. This study emphasizes the importance of
continuous and intense monitoring of the evolution of the H6N6 virus in
the terrestrial bird.