Amantadine resistance among highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (H5N1) isolated from India

Publication date: Available online 27 November 2015 Source:Microbial Pathogenesis Author(s): Aron Jacob, Richa Sood, Kh.Victoria Chanu, Sandeep Bhatia, Rekha Khandia, A.K. Pateriya, S. Nagarajan, U. Dimri, D.D. Kulkarni Emergence of antiviral resistance among H5N1 avian influenza viruses is the major challenge in the control of pandemic influenza. Matrix 2 (M2) inhibitors (amantadine and rimantadine) and neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) are the two classes of antiviral agents that are specifically active against influenza viruses and are used for both treatment and prophylaxis of influenza infections. Amantadine targets the M2 ion channel of influenza A virus and interrupts virus life cycle through blockade of hydrogen ion influx. This prevents uncoating of the virus in infected host cells which impedes the release of ribonucleoprotein required for transcription and replication of virion in the nucleus. The present study was carried out to review the status of amantadine resistance in H5N1 viruses isolated from India and to study their replicative capability. Results of the study revealed resistance to amantadine in antiviral assay among four H5N1 viruses out of which two viruses had Serine 31 Asparagine (AGT—AAT i.e., S31N) mutation and two had Valine 27 Alanine (GTT—GCT i.e., V27A) mutation. The four resistant viruses not only exhibited significant difference in effective concentration 50% (EC50) values of amantadine hydrochlori...
Source: Microbial Pathogenesis - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research