The G1-H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) has caused significant economic losses in the commercial poultry industry due to reduced egg production and increased mortality. The field observations have shown that H9N2 viruses circulate and naturally mix with other pathogens and these simultaneous infections can exacerbate disease. To avoid an incorrect virus characterization, due to co-infection, isolates were purified by in vitro plaque assays. Two plaque purified G1-H9N2 clones, selected on different cell types, named MDCK-and CEF-clone in regards to the cell culture used, were studied in vivo, revealing two different virulence phenotypes. Subsequently, the underlying mechanisms were studied. Specifically, the phenotypical outcome of SPF bird infection by the two clones resulted in completely different clinical outcomes. These differences in clinical outcome were used to study the factors behind this output in more detail. Further studies demonstrated that the more severe disease outcome associated with the MDCK-clone involves a strong induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a lack of type I interferon production, whereas the mild disease outcome associated with the CEF-clone is related to a greater antiviral cytokine response. The immunosuppressive effect of the MDCK-clone on splenocytes was further demonstrated via ChIFN-γ lack production after ex vivo mitogenic stimulation. Genome sequencing of the two clones identified only four amino acid differences including three in the HA sequence (HA-E198A, HA-R234L, HA-E502D-H9 numbering) and one in the NA sequence (NA-V33M). In the present study, valuable insights on the mechanisms responsible for AI pathogenicity and molecular mechanisms of H9N2 infections in chicken were obtained while highlighting the impact of the cells viruses are grown on their virulence.
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