Susceptibilities of antiviral-resistant influenza viruses to novel neuraminidase inhibitors

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005 Nov;49(11):4515-20. doi: 10.1128/AAC.49.11.4515-4520.2005.

Abstract

The susceptibilities of five zanamivir-resistant and six oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses were assessed against four neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors, including peramivir and A-315675, by a fluorometric NA activity inhibition assay. The enzyme activity of a majority of the variants was effectively inhibited by either A-315675 or both peramivir and A-315675 (50% inhibitory concentration, <10 nM). A novel oseltamivir-resistant influenza virus B variant carrying substitution at residue 198 (Asp-->Asn) (N2 numbering) retained susceptibility to peramivir and A-315675. In vivo, the Asn198 variant showed no apparent fitness impairment as judged by its recovery on day 5 from the nasal washes of ferrets coinfected with equal doses of the wild-type virus and the Asn198 variant. Based on the sequence analysis of the virus in the nasal washes, oseltamivir treatment (5 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days) did not provide growth advantage to the Asn198 variant. Nevertheless, treatment with A-315675 (prodrug A-322278) reduced the number of the animals (two of seven) shedding the Asn198 variant. These studies indicate that different patterns of susceptibility and cross-resistance between NA inhibitors may prove important if antiviral resistance to zanamivir and oseltamivir were to emerge.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Ferrets
  • Influenza, Human / drug therapy
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Mutation
  • Neuraminidase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Neuraminidase / chemistry
  • Neuraminidase / genetics
  • Orthomyxoviridae / drug effects*
  • Orthomyxoviridae / enzymology
  • Orthomyxoviridae / genetics

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Neuraminidase