Virology Journal (Jul 2010)

Mutations at positions 186 and 194 in the HA gene of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus improve replication in cell culture and eggs

  • Balabanis Kara,
  • Trusheim Heidi,
  • Keiner Bjoern,
  • Tuccino Annunziata B,
  • Crotta Stefania,
  • Palmer Gene,
  • Settembre Ethan,
  • Spencer Terika,
  • Lilja Anders,
  • Hekele Armin,
  • Franti Michael,
  • Suphaphiphat Pirada,
  • Sackal Melissa,
  • Rothfeder Mithra,
  • Mandl Christian W,
  • Dormitzer Philip R,
  • Mason Peter W

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-422X-7-157
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. 157

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Obtaining suitable seed viruses for influenza vaccines poses a challenge for public health authorities and manufacturers. We used reverse genetics to generate vaccine seed-compatible viruses from the 2009 pandemic swine-origin influenza virus. Comparison of viruses recovered with variations in residues 186 and 194 (based on the H3 numbering system) of the viral hemagglutinin showed that these viruses differed with respect to their ability to grow in eggs and cultured cells. Thus, we have demonstrated that molecular cloning of members of a quasispecies can help in selection of seed viruses for vaccine manufacture.