H3 influenza A virus
The invention provides an isolated H3 equine influenza A virus, as well as methods of preparing and using the virus, and genes or proteins thereof.
1. An inactivated preparation of isolated H3 influenza virus comprising a gene segment with sequences for a HA having SEQ ID NO:1 or a HA having at least 99% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 which HA does not have a valine at position 78 or an asparagine at position 159.
2. The preparation of claim 1 wherein the virus comprises at least one of the following gene segments: a gene segment with sequences for a NA having SEQ ID NO:2 or having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2, a gene segment with sequences for a PB1 having SEQ ID NO:3 or having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:3, a gene segment with sequences for a PB2 having SEQ ID NO:4 or having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:4, a gene segment with sequences for a PA having SEQ ID NO:5 or having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:5, a gene segment with sequences for a NP having SEQ ID NO:6 or having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6, a gene segment with sequences for a M1 having SEQ ID NO:7 or having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:7, a gene segment with sequences for a M2 having SEQ ID NO:17 or having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:17, a gene segment with sequences for a NS1 having SEQ ID NO:8 or having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:8, or a gene segment with sequences for a NS2 having SEQ ID NO:18 or having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:18.
3. The preparation of claim 1 wherein the virus comprises negative-strand nucleic acid corresponding to nucleic acid sequences encoding at least one of SEQ ID NOs:1-8, 17 or 18.
4. The preparation of claim 1 wherein the virus has HA having SEQ ID NO:1 and NA having SEQ ID NO:2.
5. A method to immunize a mammal against influenza, comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of the preparation of claim 1 .
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the mammal is a dog or a horse.
7. A vaccine comprising the preparation of claim 1 in an amount effective to induce a prophylactic or therapeutic response against influenza infection.
8. The vaccine of claim 7 further comprising a different isolated influenza virus.
9. The vaccine of claim 7 wherein the isolated influenza virus is a reassortant virus.
10. The vaccine of claim 7 further comprising an adjuvant.
11. The vaccine of claim 7 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
12. The vaccine of claim 11 wherein the carrier is suitable for intramuscular administration.
13. The vaccine of claim 7 which is in freeze-dried form.
14. An isolated H3 influenza virus comprising a HA1 protein encoded by a gene segment with sequences for a HA having SEQ ID NO:1 or a HA having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 which HA has an alanine at position 78 and a serine at position 159.
15. A vaccine comprising the virus of claim 14 in an amount effective to induce a prophylactic or therapeutic response against influenza infection.
16. The vaccine of claim 15 further comprising a different isolated influenza virus.
17. The vaccine of claim 15 wherein the isolated influenza virus is an attenuated virus.
18. The vaccine of claim 15 wherein the isolated influenza virus is a reassortant virus.
19. The vaccine of claim 15 wherein the influenza virus has been altered by chemical, physical or molecular means.
20. The vaccine of claim 15 further comprising an adjuvant.
21. The vaccine of claim 15 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
22. The vaccine of claim 21 wherein the carrier is suitable for intranasal or intramuscular administration.
23. The vaccine of claim 14 which is in freeze-dried form.
24. A method to immunize a mammal against influenza, comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of the virus of claim 14 .
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the mammal is a dog or a horse.
26. A diagnostic method comprising contacting a physiological sample of an animal suspected of containing anti-influenza virus antibodies with the virus of claim 14 , and determining whether the sample comprises antibodies specific for the virus.