The genetic and cellular basis of human to human transmission of influenza virus
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Unlisted
Abstract
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Technical Summary
The trigger for moving from the current level of pandemic alert to the next is the recognition of sustained human to human transmission of a novel influenza virus through the community. Yet we understand little about how these viruses do transmit and why viruses that remain essentially avian-like do not. We hypothesize that a major factor is the cell tropism of influenza virus which differs in human airways between avian and human influenza strains. The ferret is the best animal model to study human influenza. In this project a series of recombinant viruses that differ only their airway tropism will be generated and their transmission properties quantified. The findings will be related to viruses that bear H5N1 surface antigens. The contribution of other viral genes to transmissibility of humanized avian influenza viruses in ferrets will also be assessed.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Wendy Barclay (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Blumenkrantz D
(2013)
The short stalk length of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus neuraminidase limits transmission of pandemic H1N1 virus in ferrets.
in Journal of virology
Marriott AC
(2014)
Low dose influenza virus challenge in the ferret leads to increased virus shedding and greater sensitivity to oseltamivir.
in PloS one
Roberts KL
(2012)
Transmission of a 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus occurs before fever is detected, in the ferret model.
in PloS one
Roberts KL
(2011)
Lack of transmission of a human influenza virus with avian receptor specificity between ferrets is not due to decreased virus shedding but rather a lower infectivity in vivo.
in The Journal of general virology
| Description | Clinical Research Fellowship |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Imperial College Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2016 |
| End | 09/2017 |
| Description | Collaborative Award |
| Amount | £1,266,454 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Developing an in vitro approach to study transmission of respiratory viruses |
| Amount | £399,896 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NC/K00042X/1 |
| Organisation | National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2013 |
| End | 04/2016 |
| Description | FLUPIG Pathogenesis and transmission of influenza virus in pigs (5m euros across 10 participants) |
| Amount | £324,822 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 258084 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 06/2010 |
| End | 12/2014 |
| Description | FLUPIG Pathogenesis and transmission of influenza virus in pigs (5m euros across 10 participants) |
| Amount | £345,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 258084 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 06/2010 |
| End | 12/2014 |
| Description | Virulence and transmissibility of swine influenza H1N1 virus and options for its control (Imperial College BRC) |
| Amount | £348,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Department | NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2009 |
| End | 09/2011 |
| Description | Wellcome Trust Programme Grant (Mechanisms and consequences of interferon induction by influenza viruses) |
| Amount | £1,000,345 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 087039 |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2009 |
| End | 05/2015 |
| Title | Ferrets as research model for human influenza |
| Description | Development at Imperial College of the ferret model for influenza virus transmission has led to further work to develop the model to study symptoms. This includes constant temperature telemetry via surgical implantd and respirtaory function measurements via plethysmography. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - mammalian in vivo |
| Year Produced | 2009 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We are now in process of negotiating a collaboration with a small company housed in the IC bioincubator to test the efficacy of one of their drugs to alleviate influenza symptoms. |
| Description | ANTIFLU |
| Organisation | Max Planck Society |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Providing specialist influenza experience and research |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access ot a large data set pf host genes that may be invovled in influenza replication. Access to new technologies |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | FLUPIG |
| Organisation | Animal Health And Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Investigating teh role of polymerase in restriction of avian influenza in pigs |
| Collaborator Contribution | Investigating the role of pigs in pandemci influenza |
| Impact | Investigation of influenza polymerase activity in pig cells. Moncorgé O, Long JS, Cauldwell AV, Zhou H, Lycett SJ, Barclay WS. J Virol. 2012 Oct 17. [Epub ahead of print] |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Media interviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The publication of our PLOs One article was accompanied by a press release to which we responded with telephone interviews. This and other responses has led to Professor Barclay becoming well known to the media and being a frequent communicator on matters of influenza virus emegergence such as the threat posed by the swine flu pandemic of 2009. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |
| Description | School visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | School talks given both by myself and Dr Roberst to school children ages ranging from 11-18 and their parenst at locations in Berkshire and London sparked many questions on influenza. Particularly pertinent last year 2009 during the early months of the swine influenza pandemic. School thanked us. Memebr of teh audience has asled to carry out a labortaor project with our lab. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2009,2010 |