PNNL

Abstract

The host proteome response and molecular mechanisms that drive disease in vivo during infection by a human isolate of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and 1918 pandemic influenza virus remains poorly understood. This study presents a comprehensive characterization of the proteome response in cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) lung tissue over 7 days of infection with HPAI (most virulent), a reassortant virus containing 1918 hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) surface proteins (intermediate virulence), or a human seasonal strain (least virulent). A high sensitivity two-dimensional LC-MS/MS strategy and functional network analysis were implemented to gain insight into response pathways activated in macaques during influenza infection. A macaque protein database was assembled and used in the identification of 35,239 unique peptide sequences corresponding to approximately 4,259 proteins. Quantitative analysis identified an increase in expression of 400 proteins during viral infection. The abundance levels of a subset of these 400 proteins produced strong correlations with disease progression observed in the macaques, distinguishing a "core" response to viral infection from a :high" response specific to severe disease. Proteome expression profiles revealed distinct temporal response kinetics between viral strains, with HPAI inducing the most rapid response. While proteins involved in immune response, metabolism, and transport were increased rapidly in the lung by HPAI, the other viruses produced a delayed response, characterized by an increase in proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation, RNA processing, and translation. Proteomic results were integrated with previous genomic and pathologic analysis to characterize the dynamic nature of the influenza viral infection process.