Oseltamivir expands quasispecies of influenza virus through cell-to-cell transmission

Sci Rep. 2015 Mar 16:5:9163. doi: 10.1038/srep09163.

Abstract

The population of influenza virus consists of a huge variety of variants, called quasispecies, due to error-prone replication. Previously, we reported that progeny virions of influenza virus become infected to adjacent cells via cell-to-cell transmission pathway in the presence of oseltamivir. During cell-to-cell transmission, viruses become infected to adjacent cells at high multiplicity since progeny virions are enriched on plasma membrane between infected cells and their adjacent cells. Co-infection with viral variants may rescue recessive mutations with each other. Thus, it is assumed that the cell-to-cell transmission causes expansion of virus quasispecies. Here, we have demonstrated that temperature-sensitive mutations remain in progeny viruses even at non-permissive temperature by co-infection in the presence of oseltamivir. This is possibly due to a multiplex infection through the cell-to-cell transmission by the addition of oseltamivir. Further, by the addition of oseltamivir, the number of missense mutation introduced by error-prone replication in segment 8 encoding NS1 was increased in a passage-dependent manner. The number of missense mutation in segment 5 encoding NP was not changed significantly, whereas silent mutation was increased. Taken together, we propose that oseltamivir expands influenza virus quasispecies via cell-to-cell transmission, and may facilitate the viral evolution and adaptation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biological Transport
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Dogs
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Space / virology
  • Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects
  • Microbial Viability / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Orthomyxoviridae / drug effects*
  • Orthomyxoviridae / physiology*
  • Oseltamivir / pharmacology*
  • Reassortant Viruses*
  • Virus Replication / drug effects
  • Virus Replication / genetics

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Oseltamivir