We show that human myxovirus resistance protein 1 (MxA) suppresses replication of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses isolated from mammals in vitro and in MxA-transgenic mice. However, H5N1 can evade MxA restriction through replacement of individual viral polymerase complex components from a human-adapted MxA-resistant strain in vitro.
Keywords: H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b; MxA; highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses; influenza; risk assessment; virus; viruses; zoonoses; zoonotic transmission.