articleScienceOct 6, 2005Closed access

Characterization of the Reconstructed 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic Virus

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases · U.S. National Poultry Research Center · +3 more institutions

PubMed
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Abstract

The pandemic influenza virus of 1918-1919 killed an estimated 20 to 50 million people worldwide. With the recent availability of the complete 1918 influenza virus coding sequence, we used reverse genetics to generate an influenza virus bearing all eight gene segments of the pandemic virus to study the properties associated with its extraordinary virulence. In stark contrast to contemporary human influenza H1N1 viruses, the 1918 pandemic virus had the ability to replicate in the absence of trypsin, caused death in mice and embryonated chicken eggs, and displayed a high-growth phenotype in human bronchial epithelial cells. Moreover, the coordinated expression of the 1918 virus genes most certainly confers the…

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Authors

11

Topics & keywords

Keywords
  • Virus
  • Embryonated
  • Virology
  • Pandemic
  • Biology
  • Virulence
  • Influenza A virus
  • Phenotype
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Good health and well-being
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