Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (9): 4029-4040.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2024.09.027

• Preventive Veterinary Medicine • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Genetic Variation Analysis of Sixteen Novel H3N3 Subtype Avian Influenza Viruses

Kangning ZHAO1,2(), Zhonglong YANG1,2, Yi CHEN1,2, Chuncheng ZHU1,2, Yunfei GUO1,2, Yuncong YIN1,2, Tao QIN1,2, Sujuan CHEN1,2,*(), Daxin PENG1,2,*()   

  1. 1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
    2. Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal, Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
  • Received:2023-09-28 Online:2024-09-23 Published:2024-09-27
  • Contact: Sujuan CHEN, Daxin PENG E-mail:zhaokangningzkn@163.com;chensj@yzu.edu.cn;pengdx@yzu.edu.cn

Abstract:

In order to understand the genetic variation characteristics of the newly emerged H3N3 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV), we conducted whole-genome sequence analysis of H3 subtype AIV isolated during 2022-2023, and analyzed antigenic differences among representative strains. A total of 15 strains of H3N3 subtype AIV from poultry origin and 1 strain from wildfowl origin were isolated and identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole genome revealed that all 16 isolates belonged to the Eurasian lineage, with the HA gene derived from H3N8 subtype AIV, sharing a nucleotide homology of 97.3% to 99.2% when compared to human H3N8 subtype AIV isolates. The NA gene was derived from H10N3 subtype AIV, with a nucleotide homology of 98.1% to 98.4% when compared to human H10N3 subtype AIV isolates. The internal gene segments were all derived from H9N2 subtype AIVs. The cleavage sites of the HA gene of the isolates are consistent with the molecular characteristics of low pathogenic AIV. The isolated strains have multiple mutation sites that can enhance the adaptability and pathogenicity of the virus in mammals, such as the A588V and E627V mutations in the PB2 protein, the I368V and S375N mutations in the PB1 protein. Antigenic difference analysis showed that the isolates had HI antibody titers 1 log2-3 log2 different from those of earlier circulating strains in East China. Therefore, all 16 strains of H3N3 AIVs in this study are triple-recombinant viruses, with H9N2 AIV serving as the donor for all internal genes, and they harbor multiple amino acid mutations that enhance their adaptability and pathogenicity in mammals. These strains have already spread to wildfowl. This study reveals the genetic characteristics, variation and multi host distribution of the novel H3N3 AIVs, providing theoretical support for the prevention and control of avian influenza.

Key words: avian influenza virus, novel type, H3N3 subtype, genetic variation, antigenic variation

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