Identification of molecular markers associated with alteration of receptor-binding specificity in a novel genotype of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses detected in Cambodia in 2013

J Virol. 2014 Dec;88(23):13897-909. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01887-14. Epub 2014 Sep 10.

Abstract

Human infections with influenza A(H5N1) virus in Cambodia increased sharply during 2013. Molecular characterization of viruses detected in clinical specimens from human cases revealed the presence of mutations associated with the alteration of receptor-binding specificity (K189R, Q222L) and respiratory droplet transmission in ferrets (N220K with Q222L). Discovery of quasispecies at position 222 (Q/L), in addition to the absence of the mutations in poultry/environmental samples, suggested that the mutations occurred during human infection and did not transmit further.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Cambodia
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers*
  • Genotype
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / genetics
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / genetics*
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / isolation & purification
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / physiology*
  • Influenza, Human / virology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Virus Attachment*

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus