Influenza viruses which preconditioned the epidemic rise in Russia in 2002-2003. A resumed circulation of influenza viruses similar to V/Victoria/2/87

According to research, the epidemic rise of influenza was preconditioned, during 2002-2003, in Russia by the circulation of influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B viruses. The Center of Influenza Ecology and Epidemiology undertook a study of 178 epidemic strains: 41 strains A(H1N1), 116 strains A(H3N2) and 21 strains of influenza B were among them. All strains were isolated in the MDCK cell culture. A simultaneous isolation in embryonated eggs as well as changing of the isolation system from MDCK to embryonated eggs were found to be effective only for influenza A(H1N1) viruses. According to the antigenic analysis, all A(H1N1) viruses were variants of the etalon A/New Caledonia/20/99. The A(H3N2) viral strains' population was heterogeneous by its antigenic properties: among its isolates, there were variants similar to the etalons of A/Moscow/10/99 and of A/Panama/200/99 as well as strains, which weakly reacted with sera of both above etalons; possibly the latter were close to the etalon of A/Fujian/411/02. All epidemic strains of influenza B virus belonged, according to the antigenic properties of hemagglutinin, to the virus group of B/Victoria/2/87-like and were antigenic variants of the etalon of B/Hong Kong/22/01. This confirmed that influenza B viruses with the antigenic hemagglutinin structure of the virus group of B/Victoria/2/87-like, which were not present in Russia for more than 10 years, re-entered the active circulation. An analysis of antigenic properties of neuraminidases (NA) of the mentioned epidemic strains showed their different degrees of relationship with the NA etalons of both evolutionary groups, i.e. B/Victoria/2/87 and B/Yamagata/16/88-like. A study of paired sera obtained from patients showed a growth of antibodies to the etalons of influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B viruses of the season in question, which confirmed the virology data.     

Epidemic strains influenza viruses A and B in the 2005-2006 season in Russia

Investigations indicated that the epidemic upsurge of influenza morbidity in the 2005-2006 season in Russia was caused by the active circulation of influenza viruses A and B. The Center for Ecology and Epidemiology of Influenza, D. I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, studied 182 epidemic strains. A hundred and thirteen influenza viruses A(H3N2) were similar to the reference A/California/07/2004 or were its antigenic variants. Thirteen influenza virus A(H1N1) strains that were antigenic variants of the reference A/New Caledonia/20/99 were isolated in sporadic cases. Influenza viruses B were similar to B/Malaysia/2506/2004--lineage B/Victoria/2/87). All the strains were isolated in the MDCK cell culture. Comparative study of the sensitivity of the chicken embryo (CE) and MDCK isolation system to the 1999-2006 epidemic strains showed that CE tropism was least pronounced in influenza viruses A(H3N2). Analysis of the 2002-2006 strains demonstrated that influenza viruses A reacted actively with human erythrocytes of the blood groups 0(I) and A(II) and very slightly with chicken ones. Eighty-five influenza virus A(H3N2) strains from the 2005-2006 epidemic season were investigated for rimantadine susceptibility. The frequency of rimantadine-resistant influenza virus A(H3N2) strains was 38.0%. Studies of 79 paired sera from patients revealed a rise of antibodies to influenza viruses A(H3N2) and B in 25.9-33.3 and 20.7-23.8% of cases, respectively. There was an increase in antibodies to influenza viruses A and B in the sera collected from donors in Moscow and its region in September 2005 to June 2006.     

Increasing appearance of reassortant influenza B virus in Taiwan from 2002 to 2005

Genetic and antigenic analyses of influenza B virus field strains isolated in Taiwan from 1998 to 2005 were performed. To investigate the molecular evolution of influenza B viruses, sequence analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA1 subunit) and neuraminidase genes was performed. All influenza B viruses isolated between 1998 and 2000 belonged to the B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage. The B/Victoria/2/87 lineage, which was cocirculating with the Yamagata lineage, was identified in Taiwan in March 2001. Concurrently, there was an increasing prevalence of this lineage in many parts of the world, including North America and Europe, during the 2001-2002 season. Since 2002, genetic reassortants of influenza B virus with the Victoria lineage of hemagglutinin and the Yamagata lineage of neuraminidase have been found at a rate of 46%. Therefore, in 2002, at least three sublineages of influenza B virus strains, the B/Shanghai/361/2002-like strain (Yamagata lineage), the B/Hong Kong/330/01-like strain (Victoria lineage), and the B/Hong Kong/1351/02-like strain (B reassortant lineage), were identified in Taiwan. The results showed that genetically distinct lineages can cocirculate in the population and that the reassortment among these strains plays a role in generating the genetic diversity of influenza B viruses. Interestingly, from January to April 2005, B reassortant viruses became dominant (73%) in Taiwan, which indicated that a mismatch had occurred between the influenza B vaccine strain recommended for the 2004-2005 season in the Northern hemisphere by the World Health Organization and the epidemic strain.     

Characterization of epidemic influenza virus A(H3N2) strains circulating in Russia in the 2003-2004 epidemic season

Studies indicated that the epidemic rise in the incidence of influenza was caused by its virus A (H3N2) circulation in Russia in the 2003-2004 season. The Center of Influenza Ecology and Epidemiology investigated 101 epidemic strains isolated the MDCK culture. Antigenic analysis showed that all viruses A(H3N2) were similar to the reference virus A/Fujian/411/02(H3N2) and only 5 strains slightly differed from the latter. Twelve (14%) strains resistant to rimantadine at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml were identified. Investigation of paired sera from the patients demonstrated a rise of antibodies to the references of influenza virus A(H3N2) in 68.7% of cases and a less increase in those to influenza viruses A(H1N1) and B. The active circulation of A(H3N2) viruses was due not only to changes in their antigenic structure, but also to the low level of antibodies to these viruses, as shown by the analysis of donor sera.     

Spread and properties of epidemic influenza A and B virus strains accountable for morbidity in Russia during 1999-2002

The strains of influenza A -A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B viruses were shown in the paper to have been circulating in Russia in 1999-2002. A co-circulation of viruses of 2 to 3 types was detected in all epidemic seasons. A majority of strains was isolated on the culture of cells MDCK. A study of epidemic strains revealed the predominance of viruses A(H3N2) in 1999-2000, the predominance of viruses A(h1N1) in 2000-2001, and the predominance of influenza B viruses in 2001-2002. According to the conducted antigenic analysis, all A(H1N1) isolates were similar to the etalon A/New Caledonia/20/99. The antigenic drift of hemagglutinin of A(H3N2) epidemic strains was oriented towards the etalons of A/Sydney/5/97--A/Moscow/10/99; while in influenza B viruses it was oriented towards the etalons B/Beejing/184/93--B/Yamanashi/166/98--B/Sichuan/379/99. Sequencing of hemagglutinin gene HA1 showed certain difference in the gene structure of epidemic strains A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) versus the etalon ones, which were registered, including at antigen sites. An analysis of paired sera obtained from patients confirmed the virologic findings, i.e. it detected a growth of antibodies to viruses that circulated during an actual season.     

Antigenic and genetic variation in the hemagglutinins of H1N1 and H3N2 human influenza a viruses in the Shanghai area from 2005 to 2008

Continued rapid evolution of the influenza A virus is responsible for annual epidemics and occasional pandemics in the Shanghai area. In the present study, the representative strains of A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 influenza viruses isolated in the Shanghai area from 2005 to 2008 were antigenically and genetically characterized. The antigenic cartography method was carried out to visualize the hemagglutination-inhibition data. Antigenic differences were detected between circulating A/H1N1 strains isolated from 2005 to 2006 and the epidemic A/H1N1 strains isolated in 2008, which were found to be associated with the amino acid substitution K140E in HA1. The present vaccine strain A/Brisbane/59/2007 is considered to be capable of providing sufficient immunity against most of the circulating A/H1N1 viruses isolated in 2008 from the Shanghai population. The study showed that there were significant antigenic differences between the epidemic A/H3N2 strains isolated in 2007 and 2008, suggesting that antigenic drift had occurred in the A/H3N2 strains isolated in 2008. The P194L mutation was thought to be responsible for the antigenic evolution of influenza A/H3N2 viruses isolated from Shanghai in 2008. Evidence of antigenic drift suggests that the influenza A/H3N2 vaccine component needs to be updated.     

Use of monospecific antibodies for determining the antigenic determinant composition in the hemagglutinins of the H3N2 influenza viruses of 1979-1983

The study of the antigenic composition of hemagglutinins of influenza H3N2 viruses isolated during epidemic outbreaks in 1979-1983, carried out by means of monospecific antibodies to individual antigenic determinants, showed heterogeneity of the antigenic structure of epidemically active variants. Some variants were antigenically identical to A/Bangkok/1/79 virus. Hemagglutinin structure of A/Shanghai/31/80, A/Philippines/2/82 and the like was found to contain a qualitatively new antigenic determinant heretofore undetectable in H1N1, H3N2 viruses.     

Analysis of etiology of influenza-like morbidity and monitoring influenza epidemic of 1998-1999 by laboratory diagnosis methods

The etiological structure of influenza-like was analyzed in the population in cities and towns and in Russia as a whole in November 1998 to April 1999 by the findings of immunofluorescence and serological surveys of patients with acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI). By the results of both tests, the proportion of the incidence of influenza A (H3N2) was largest, the decreasing order in their significance was as follows: adenoviruses, type 3 parainfluenza virus, RSV, influenza B virus, influenza A(H1N1), types 2 and 1 parainfluenza virus. All influenza viruses A(H1N1) were isolated in Samara in February 1999. Three of them were similar to the reference strain A/Johannesburg/82/96 in antigenic properties, two strains appeared to be its drift variants. No A/Beijing/262/95 (H1N1)-like viruses recommended for incorporation as part of vaccines were detected. All influenza A(H3N2) viruses were drift variants of strain A/Sydney/05/97, and all influenza B viruses were similar to the reference strain B/Harbin/07/94 in antigenic structure.     

Variability of hemagglutinin from strains of influenza virus A (H3N2), isolated in Russian from 1989 to 1999

Analysis of 154 strains isolated in Russia and CIS countries in 1989-1999 showed that influenza virus A(H3N2) caused epidemics and epidemic rises 8 times, circulating together with A(H1N1) and B viruses. Antigenic drift was revealed using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Analysis of antigenic properties of the viruses in the population showed that strains isolated during the same year were usually variants of one or rarely two reference strains. A drop of isolation rate of A(H3N2) strains on chick embryos in recent years was associated with increase in these strains' sensitivity to MDCK culture. Differences in amino acid sequences of epidemic and reference strain hemagglutinins were detected. The number of positions in which the changes were detected varied from 6 to 16 in all antigenic sites: A, B, C, D. and E.     

2004-2005年中国B型流感病毒抗原性及基因特性研究

目的 阐明2004-2005年中国流行的B型流感病毒血凝素抗原性及其基因变异情况.方法 对2004-2005年分离的B型毒株先进行单向血凝抑制试验;在此基础上选取不同时间、地点的B型流感毒株进行血凝素基因HA1区核苷酸序列测定并推导出其氨基酸序列,然后进行基因进化特性分析.结果 2004-2005年我国人群中同时流行着B型Yamagata系和Victoria系毒株.Yamagata系毒株与B/Shanghai/361/02比较,2004年有3.7%病毒单向血凝抑制效价有4倍以上差异,2005年有4.5%病毒单向血凝抑制效价有4倍以上差异,并且在血凝素基因HA1区发生9个氨基酸替换,在196为增加一个糖基化位点.Victoria系毒株与B/Hong kong/330/01比较,2004年有8.5%病毒单向血凝抑制效价有4倍以上差异,2005年有20.6%病毒单向血凝抑制效价有4倍以上差异,并且在HA1区发生9个氨基酸替换,在197位增加一个糖基化位点.结论 2004-2005年我国人群中流行的B型流感病毒的抗原性与B/Shanghai/361/02、B/Hong kong/330/01相比抗原性已经发生了变化.     

Detection and characterization of new influenza B virus variants in 2002

One-hundred five influenza B-positive specimens obtained from southeast Asia in 2002 were categorized on the basis of DNA sequencing of HA1 gene as well as real-time PCR analysis of the NA gene. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA1 gene sequences showed that the majority of the viruses (96.2%) belonged to the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage, while a smaller percentage of the viruses (3.8%) belonged to the B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage. The B/Yamagata/16/88 viruses displayed significant antigenic drift in the deduced amino acid sequences of the HA1 protein, and the B/Victoria/2/87-like viruses consisted of B/Hong Kong/1351/02-like (72.3%) and B/Hong Kong/330/01-like (27.7%) viruses. The B/Hong Kong/1351/02-like viruses were reassortants with the HA gene belonging to the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage and the NA gene belonging to the B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage, whereas both the HA and NA genes of B/Hong Kong/330/01 virus belonged to the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage. In this study, however, all the B/Hong Kong/330/01-like isolates exhibited the B/Yamagata/16/88-like NA gene, which likely resulted from reassortment of B/Hong Kong/330/01 and B/Hong Kong/1351/02 viruses during coinfection. Additional molecular characterization of the six internal genes showed that the M, NS, PA, and PB2 genes of the new variants were B/Hong Kong/1351/02 in origin, whereas the NP and PA genes retained the B/Hong Kong/330/01 origin. Interestingly, these new variants all appeared late in the year 2002. These results support the notion that influenza B viruses continued to evolve through antigenic drift and shift.     

Internal epidemic influenza virus proteins: isolation and investigation

The internal influenza virus proteins M1 and RNP free from surface protein impurities were isolated from subviral particles (virions free from HA and NA ectomenes). The spikeless particles had no propensity to aggregate in the solution at pH 5.0 as compared with native viruses. The subviral particles of B/Hong Kong/330/01 influenza virus, which belonged to B/Victoria/2/87-lineage, were obtained by proteolytic treatment with the enzyme bromelain under the same conditions as in cases of influenza B viruses of B/Jamagata/16/88 lineage. A chromatographic analysis of the tryptic hydrolyzates obtained for matrix (M1) proteins of A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) influenza viruses revealed differences that were greatest between the protein M1 molecules isolated from influenza viruses of different subtypes of hemagglutinine. These findings suggest there are variations in the structure of this conservative internal viral protein M1 during evolution.     

2004-2008年我国流行的A型流感病毒抗原性及HA1基因特性的研究

目的 了解我国2004-2008年A(H1N1、H3N2)型流感病毒流行情况、抗原性和基因特性变异关系,了解疫苗株与我国流行株之间抗原性变化情况.方法 选择2004年以来我国分离的A(H1N1、H3N2)型流感病毒进行抗原性及HA1区基因序列,通过比对HA1蛋白位点变异情况,分析我国流感病毒抗原性及基因特性变化情况.结果 A(H1N1)亚型流感毒株抗原性2004-2007年分离的A(H1N1)亚型流感病毒的抗原性与疫苗株A/New Caledonia/20/1999(H1N1)类似;2008年我国流行的A(H1N1)亚型毒株的抗原性与2008-2009年北半球的流感疫苗株A/Brisben/59/2007(H1N1)类似.2004-2005年分离的A(H3N2)亚型流感病毒的抗原性与疫苗株A/Fujian/411/12002(H3N2)比较发生了变异;2006-2007年我国流行的H3N2毒株与A/Wiscansin/67/2006(H3N2)类似,2008年我国流行的H3N2毒株与疫苗株A/Brisben/10/2006(H3N2)类似.结论 2004-2008年我国流行的A(H1N1、H3N2)亚型流感病毒的抗原性和基因特性发生了改变.     

Selection of antigenic variants of H1N1 influenza viruses by means of monoclonal antibodies

Six different monoclonal antibodies to influenza A/Brazil/11/78 virus hemagglutinin were used for selection of antigenic variants of H1N1 viruses: A/USSR/090/77 and A/black-headed gull/ Kaz . SSR/470/79. The group-specific monoclonal antibody completely neutralized the infective activity of the parental viruses (dilutions 1:5 to 1:640). Two antigenic variants of wild type viruses were obtained using cross-reactive antibody. A comparative study of the antigenic structure, biological properties, and peptide maps of the heavy chain of the original viruses, antigenic variants, and some epidemic H1N1 strains was carried out. The selected variants of A/black-headed gull/ Kaz . SSR/470/77 and A/USSR/090/79 viruses were shown to be similar to epidemic H1N1 strains isolated in 1953 and 1978.     

Characteristics of the causative agents of the influenza A (H3N2) epidemic in Leningrad in 1983

Investigation of influenza A (H3N2) epidemic of 1983 in Leningrad revealed simultaneous circulation of 3 antigenic variants similar to A/Bangkok/1/79, A/Bangkok/2/79, and A/Philippines/2/82 with significant predominance of the first antigenic variant. The viruses related to A/Philippines/2/82 comprising one-third of all isolations produced antibodies of a wide spectrum unlike the other two variants whose antisera neutralize actively the homologous virus only. The possibility of selecting epidemic strains of the A/Philippines/2/82 variety as vaccine strain candidates is discussed.     

Molecular characterization of influenza B viruses circulating in northern Italy during the 2001-2002 epidemic season

During the 2001-2002 influenza season, virological surveillance highlighted the predominant circulation of B viruses (86% of isolates) in Italy, in contrast to many other countries in Europe and North America where AH3N2 viruses were isolated most frequently, and in contrast to the infrequent isolation of B viruses in Italy during the previous two years. Associated with this predominance of influenza B was the re-emergence of B/Victoria/2/87-lineage viruses, closely related to B viruses prevalent during the 1980s, which are distinct antigenically and genetically from circulating B/Sichuan/379/99-like viruses of the B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage, which predominated in most parts of the world during the last 10 years. Ninety-four viruses isolated in two regions of northern Italy were characterized, 50 by direct sequencing of haemagglutinin (HA). Viruses of both Victoria and Yamagata lineages co-circulated throughout the 12 weeks of the influenza season. The HAs of the Yamagata-lineage viruses were heterogeneous and comprised two sublineages, represented by B/Sichuan/379/99 and B/Harbin/7/94, whereas the Victoria-lineage viruses were more homogeneous and closely related to B/Hong Kong/330/01, the current prototype vaccine strain. The antigenic and genetic characteristics of the viruses correlated with certain epidemiological features. In particular, the low age (<14 years) of individuals infected with B/Hong Kong/330/01-like viruses is likely to reflect the greater susceptibility of the youngest cohort, due to lack of previous exposure to Victoria-lineage viruses, and is consistent with the conclusion that vaccination with a B/Sichuan/379/99-like virus would give poor protection against infection with B/Hong Kong/330/01-like (Victoria-lineage) viruses.     

Properties of influenza A and B, isolated from chick embryos and in MDCK cell culture

MDCK culture was used along with the traditional chicken embryonated eggs (CEE) for improving the efficiency of isolation of epidemic influenza A and B viruses from clinical material. The number of influenza viruses isolated in both systems in epidemic seasons of 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 was as follows: 1 in MDCK and 21 in CEE for influenza A(H1N1), 56 and 7, respectively, for influenza A(H3N2), and 4 and 2 strains, respectively, for influenza B viruses. Influenza A viruses were heterogeneous by sensitivity to various erythrocytes, thermal stability of hemagglutinins, and transfer to another culturing system. Unlike the strains isolated in CEE, cultural viruses possessed a thermolabile hemagglutinin and more actively reacted with human and guinea pig erythrocytes. Evolution of influenza A(H3N2) viruses which is due mainly to changes in the hemagglutinin structure seems to be directed towards greater tropism to mammalian but not avian cells. Influenza B viruses are more homogeneous by antigenic and biological properties.     

Antigenic analysis of intraepidemic variants of influenza A (H3N2) viruses by hyperimmune rat antisera

Hyperimmune rat antisera prepared against 5 recent antigenic variants of influenza A (H3N2) viruses were studied for haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibodies to the homologous and the heterologous viruses. The ratios of homologous to heterologous reactions varied from one animal to another in immunizations with each of the immunogens. Some antisera exhibited a ratio high enough to allow differentiation of the epidemic variants and demonstration of an intraepidemic heterogeneity of field strains isolated during the outbreak of 1985/86. The variation of cross-reactions of polyclonal antisera may reflect differences in the range of specificities of anti-haemagglutinin antibodies produced by individual animals. The significance of this finding in the classification of influenza A (H3N2) viruses is discussed. Lack of nonspecific inhibitors interfering with the HI test is an additional advantage of hyperimmune rat antisera in typing influenza A and B virus isolates.     

Antigenic structure of the hemagglutinin of H9N2 influenza viruses

The hemagglutinins (HAs) of H9 influenza viruses isolated from birds and mammals of different species were antigenically and genetically analyzed. Antigenic variants were selected from A/swine/Hong Kong/10/98 (H9N2) and A/duck/Hokkaido/13/00 (H9N2) in the presence of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Based on the reactivity patterns of these mutants with a panel of MAbs, at least five non-overlapping antigenic sites were defined using eight MAbs which recognized seven distinct epitopes on the H9 HA molecule. Based on the reactivity patterns with the panel of monoclonal antibodies, 21 H9N2 virus strains isolated from birds and mammals were divided into 7 antigenically distinct groups. The present findings indicate that it is important to monitor the antigenic variation in H9 influenza viruses. The panel of MAbs in the present study, thus, should be useful for detailed antigenic analysis of the H9 HAs for epidemiological studies, the selection of vaccine strains, and diagnosis.     

Genome analysis of epidemic influenza virus strains isolated in 1979-1983

Comparative studies on the electrophoretic mobility of double-stranded RNA segments constructed of the genome of isolates under study and of reference influenza virus strains of respective serotypes are suggestive for the evolution of majority of the genes of both A and B influenza viruses, including their genes coding for non-glycosylated proteins. Among influenza A and B virus strains which were circulating during the same epidemic, there were variants differing from each other in a number of genes including those coding for virion internal proteins. A recombinant (reassortant) detected among the influenza virus strains, which circulated in Moscow in 1979, contained the genes 4, 6, 7 and 8 identical with those of the reference H1N1 strain, and the genes 1, 2, 3 and 5 identical with those of the reference H3N2 strain. Comparative analysis of reference influenza virus strains, both the H3N2 serotype (being isolated from 1968 to 1979) and the H1N1 serotype (being isolated from 1977 to 1980) differing in the antigenic specificity of their haemagglutinin (HA) suggested the increasing variability of either genes coding for glycoproteins as well as for non-glycosylated proteins.