Emergence of a C-terminal seven-amino-acid elongation of NS1 in around 1950 conferred a minor growth advantage to former seasonal influenza A viruses

Publication

Emergence of a C-terminal seven-amino-acid elongation of NS1 in around 1950 conferred a minor growth advantage to former seasonal influenza A viruses

Journal Paper/Review - Aug 7, 2013

Lohrmann Florens, Dijkman Ronald, Stertz Silke, Thiel Volker, Haller Otto, Staeheli Peter, Kochs Georg

Citation

Lohrmann F, Dijkman R, Stertz S, Thiel V, Haller O, Staeheli P, Kochs G. Emergence of a C-terminal seven-amino-acid elongation of NS1 in around 1950 conferred a minor growth advantage to former seasonal influenza A viruses. J Virol 2013; 87:11300-3.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

J Virol 2013; 87

Publication Date

Aug 7, 2013

Issn Electronic

1098-5514

Pages

11300-3

Brief description/objective

Influenza A viruses circulating in humans from ∼1950 to ∼1987 featured a nonstructural (NS1) protein with a C-terminal extension of seven amino acids. The biological significance of this NS1 elongation remained elusive. We observed that replication kinetics of the wild-type virus A/Hong Kong/01/68 (H3N2) and a mutant encoding a truncated NS1 were indistinguishable in most experimental systems. However, wild-type virus outcompeted the mutant during mixed infections, suggesting that the NS1 extension conferred minor growth advantages.