Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Can Directly Infect and Replicate in Human Gut Tissues

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 201; no. 8; pp. 1173 - 1177
• Main Authors: Shu, Yuelong, Li, Chris Ka-fai, Li, Zi, Gao, Rongbao, Liang, Qian, Zhang, Ye, Dong, Libo, Zhou, Jiangfang, Dong, Jie, Wang, Dayan, Wen, Leying, Wang, Ming, Bai, Tian, Li, Dexin, Dong, Xiaoping, Yu, Hongjie, Yang, Weizhong, Wang, Yu, Feng, Zijian, McMichael, Andrew J., Xu, Xiao-Ning
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford The University of Chicago Press 15.04.2010; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Colon - virology; Epithelial cells; Epithelium - virology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastrointestinal tract; H5N1 subtype influenza A virus; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Influenza A virus; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - pathogenicity; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - physiology; Influenza, Human - virology; Intestinal Mucosa - virology; Intestines; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Organ Culture Techniques; Polymerase chain reaction; Receptors; Receptors, Cell Surface - physiology; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Tissue samples; Virology; Virus Replication - physiology; Viruses; Virus; Human; Infection; Influenzavirus A; Avian influenzavirus; Influenza A virus; Digestive system; Gut; Orthomyxoviridae; Zoopathogen
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/651457

The human respiratory tract is a major site of avian influenza A(H5N1) infection. However, many humans infected with H5N1 present with gastrointestinal tract symptoms, suggesting that this may also be a target for the virus. In this study, we demonstrated that the human gut expresses abundant avian H5N1 receptors, is readily infected ex vivo by the H5N1 virus, and produces infectious viral particles in organ culture. An autopsy colonic sample from an H5N1-infected patient showed evidence of viral antigen expression in the gut epithelium. Our results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that H5N1 can directly target human gut tissues.