Emergence, Evolution, and Pathogenicity of Influenza A(H7N4) Virus in Shorebirds in China
Hongliang Chai, Xiang Li, Minghui Li, Xinru Lv, Wentao Yu, Yi Li, Yi Li, Jing Sun, Yulei Li, Yulei Li, Heting Sun, Jingman Tian, Yu Xu, Xiaoli Bai, Peng Peng, Linhong Xie, Siyuan Qin, Qing An, Fengjiang Zhang, Hailong Zhang, Jiang Du, Siyuan Yang, Zhijun Hou, Xiangwei Zeng, Yulong Wang, Yulong Wang, Juergen A. Richt, Yajun Wang, Yajun Wang, Yanbing Li, Yanbing Li, Jianzhang Ma
Abstract
The H7 subtype avian influenza viruses, such as H7N2, H7N3, H7N4, H7N7, and H7N9, were documented as being capable of infecting humans, and the H7 subtype low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are capable of mutating into highly pathogenic avian influenza; therefore, they pose a serious threat to public health. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history, molecular characteristics, and pathogenicity of shorebird-origin influenza A(H7N4) viruses, showing a similar evolutionary trajectory with Jiangsu human A(H7N4) viruses in HA and NA genes. Moreover, our isolates exhibited variable virulence (including moderate virulence) in mice, suggesting a potential risk to other mammalian species, including humans.