Mechanism of Human Influenza Virus RNA Persistence and Virion Survival in Feces: Mucus Protects Virions From Acid and Digestive Juices

Ryohei Hirose; Takaaki Nakaya; Yuji Naito; Tomo Daidoji; Yohei Watanabe; Hiroaki Yasuda; Hideyuki Konishi; Yoshito Itoh

doi:10.1093/infdis/jix224

Mechanism of Human Influenza Virus RNA Persistence and Virion Survival in Feces: Mucus Protects Virions From Acid and Digestive Juices

J Infect Dis. 2017 Jul 1;216(1):105-109. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jix224.

Authors

Ryohei Hirose^{1

2}, Takaaki Nakaya², Yuji Naito¹, Tomo Daidoji², Yohei Watanabe², Hiroaki Yasuda¹, Hideyuki Konishi¹, Yoshito Itoh¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
² Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.

PMID: 28498998
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix224

Abstract

Although viral RNA or infectious virions have been detected in the feces of individuals infected with human influenza A and B viruses (IAV/IBV), the mechanism of viral survival in the gastrointestinal tract remains unclear. We developed a model that attempts to recapitulate the conditions encountered by a swallowed virus. While IAV/IBV are vulnerable to simulated digestive juices (gastric acid and bile/pancreatic juice), highly viscous mucus protects viral RNA and virions, allowing the virus to retain its infectivity. Our results suggest that virions and RNA present in swallowed mucus are not inactivated or degraded by the gastrointestinal environment, allowing their detection in feces.

Keywords: Influenza; feces; inactivation; mucus; viscosity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Feces / virology*
Humans
Influenza A virus / physiology*
Influenza B virus / physiology*
Influenza, Human / virology
Intestines / virology
Mucus / metabolism*
RNA, Viral / isolation & purification*
Virion / physiology

Substances

RNA, Viral