The nucleoprotein is responsible for intracerebral pathogenicity of A/duck/Mongolia/47/2001 (H7N1) in chicks

Avian influenza viruses A/duck/Mongolia/47/2001 (H7N1) (47/01) and A/duck/Mongolia/867/2002 (H7N1) (867/02) were defined as low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) using an intravenous pathogenicity test in chickens. On the other hand, the intracerebral pathogenicity indices of 47/01 and 867/02 were 1.30 and 0.00, respectively. A series of reassortant viruses were generated between 47/01 and 867/02, and their intracerebral pathogenicity was compared in one-day-old chicks to identify the protein(s) responsible for the intracerebral pathogenicity of 47/01. The results indicate that the amino acids at positions 50 and 98 of the nucleoprotein are related to the pathogenicity of 47/01 in chicks by intracerebral inoculation. A significant association was found between mortality of the chicks inoculated intracerebrally with 47/01 and virus replication in the lungs and/or brain. These results indicate that the NP of avian influenza viruses may be responsible for intracerebral pathogenicity in the host.