Abstract: Virus with
PB2 D253N and
Q591K had greater polymerase activity in minireplicon assays, induced more tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in human macrophages, replicated better in differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells, and was more pathogenic for mice.
Abstract: We investigated the tropism, host responses, and virulence of two variants of A/Quail/Hong Kong/G1/1997 (H9N2) (H9N2/G1) with
D253N and
Q591K in the
PB2 protein in primary human macrophages and bronchial epithelium in vitro and in mice in vivo.