Evolution of the H9N2 influenza genotype that facilitated the genesis of the novel H7N9 virus

Juan Pu, Shuoguo Wang, Yanbo Yin, Guozhong Zhang, Robert A. Carter, Jinliang Wang, Guanlong Xu, Honglei Sun, Min Wang, Chu Wen, Yandi Wei, Dongdong Wang, Baoli Zhu, Gordon Lemmon, Yuannian Jiao, Susu Duan, Qian Wang, Qian Du, Meng Sun, Jinnan BaoYipeng Sun, Jixun Zhao, Hui Zhang, Gang Wu, Jinhua Liu*, Robert G. Webster

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

299 Scopus citations

Abstract

The emergence of human infection with a novel H7N9 influenza virus in China raises a pandemic concern. Chicken H9N2 viruses provided all six of the novel reassortant's internal genes. However, it is not fully understood how the prevalence and evolution of these H9N2 chicken viruses facilitated the genesis of the novel H7N9 viruses. Here we show that over more than 10 y of cocirculation of multiple H9N2 genotypes, a genotype (G57) emerged that had changed antigenicity and improved adaptability in chickens. It became predominant in vaccinated farm chickens in China, caused widespread outbreaks in 2010-2013 before the H7N9 viruses emerged in humans, and finally provided all of their internal genes to the novel H7N9 viruses. The prevalence and variation of H9N2 influenza virus in farmed poultry could provide an important early warning of the emergence of novel reassortants with pandemic potential.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)548-553
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume112
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 13 2015

Keywords

  • Chicken influenza virus
  • Genotype
  • H7N9
  • H9N2
  • Infectivity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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