The E119D neuraminidase mutation identified in a multidrug-resistant influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 isolate severely alters viral fitness in vitro and in animal models.

We recently isolated an influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 E119D/H275Y neuraminidase (NA) variant from an immunocompromised patient who received oseltamivir and zanamivir therapies. This variant demonstrated cross resistance to zanamivir, oseltamivir, peramivir and laninamivir. In this study, the viral fitness of the recombinant wild-type (WT), E119D and E119D/H275Y A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses was evaluated in vitro and in experimentally-infected C57BL/6 mice and guinea pigs.

Impact of a large deletion in the neuraminidase protein identified in a laninamivir-selected influenza A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2) variant on viral fitness in vitro and in ferrets.

Viral fitness of a laninamivir-selected influenza A/Brisbane/10/2007-like (H3N2) isolate (LRVp9) containing a 237-amino acid neuraminidase deletion and a P194L hemagglutinin mutation was evaluated in vitro and in ferrets. LRVp9 and the wild-type (WT) virus showed comparable replication kinetics in MDCK-ST6GalI cells. Cultured virus was recovered between days 2 and 5 post-infection in nasal washes (NW) from the 4 WT-infected ferrets whereas no virus was recovered from the LRVp9-infected animals.

Symptom Experience and Quality of Life in Children after Sport-Related Head Injuries: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Sports are a major cause of concussions, and little is known about the symptom experience and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in children who remain symptomatic for over 3 months following such head injuries.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of children aged 10-18 years was performed who were referred to the Neurosurgery Clinic at our centre following a head injury. Symptom experience was measured using the modified Concussion Symptom Scale, and HRQL was measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL).

Reduced airborne transmission of oseltamivir-resistant pandemic A/H1N1 virus in ferrets.

Background: The H275Y neuraminidase mutation conferring oseltamivir resistance has been reported in several pandemic A/H1N1 (pH1N1) isolates. We sought to evaluate transmission of this mutant virus through the direct contact and the airborne (aerosol and droplet) routes in the ferret model.

Methods: Groups of four ferrets were infected with either wild-type (WT) or oseltamivir-resistant pH1N1 (H275Y) strains.