Adaptation of an influenza virus strain to a new host.

Abstract

Since the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, influenza has evolved and circulated in the world till today. Due to its high mutation rate and the ability to transmit between various host species, influenza virus has led to repeated pandemic and seasonal outbreaks over the years.

This project involves the adaptation of human isolated Influenza A/Hong Kong/8/68 (HK/68) virus strain to a new host, the mouse (Mus musculus). It aims to study the early phase of evolution as the virus adapts to a new host. The HK/68 virus is an Influenza A virus of the H3N2 subtype, which contributed to the 1968 flu pandemic.

Five mutations were identified from the mouse adapted HK/68 virus, these include: T1679A (I560N) in HA gene, G301A (D101N) in NP gene, C1786T (P596S) in PB1 gene, G1734C (E578D) and C1836A in PB2 gene. Of the five mutations, four were translated to amino acid substitutions, while one was a silent mutation.