Genetic variation of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase of influenza B viruses isolated in Zhejiang province during 1999-2010 / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To Characterize the genetic diversity of hemagglutinin(HA)and neuraminidase(NA)of influenza B viruses isolated in Zhejiang province during 1999-2010.Methods Respiratory specimens were collected from patients with flu-like syndrome during the influenza outbreaks or from the hospitals which carrying out influenza surveillance project in Zhejiang province.Samples were detected by real-time RT-PCR and isolated for influenza virus.HA1 and NA genes of influenza B virus isolates were amplified and sequenced.Phylogenetic comparison and genetic diversity analysis were performed using the bioinformation software.Results A total of 34 influenza B viruses were evolved in this study including Victoria-like and Yamagata-like strains according to the results of the HI test.The mutation rate of Victoria-like HA1 gene was 4.5% and Yamagata-like HA1 gene was 3.4%,respectively.The Victoria-like influenza B isolates had appeared to be all re-assortants having a Victoria lincage HA and Yamagata lineage NA since 2004.The predominant type of influenza virus isolates in 2010 was also influenza B virus after the H1N1 flu pandemic in Zhejiang province.The isolated strains were antigenicaily and genetically similar to B/Brisbane/60/2008--the vaccine strain proposed for 2009-2010.Many difierences of HA1 and NA amino acids existed in the current isolates when compared to previous influenza B strains.Conclusion Significant diversity was generated among influcnza B virus isolated from 1999 to 2010 in Zhejiang province.Genetic re-assortment and antigenic drift seemed the main evolutionary mechanism on influenza B virus.