ABSTRACT
Specific traits of influenza B viruses circulation in Russia and worldwide in 2005-2012 were studied and the amount of influenza B viruses in the whole population of influenza viruses isolated in Russia was estimated. The trend toward antigenic drift for both Victoria and Yamagata lineages was characterized. The genetic analysis revealed amino acid changes that influenced the antigenic properties of the viruses. The match of the epidemic isolates and vaccine strains was corroborated.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Viral , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype , Influenza B virus , Influenza, Human , Amino Acid Substitution/genetics , Antigens, Viral/genetics , Antigens, Viral/immunology , Evolution, Molecular , Humans , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/immunology , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/isolation & purification , Influenza B virus/classification , Influenza B virus/genetics , Influenza B virus/immunology , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Influenza, Human/genetics , Influenza, Human/immunology , Phylogeny , Russia , VictoriaABSTRACT
The results of molecular genetic analysis of more than 280 strains of influenza A virus subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 circulating in Russia in 2006-2012 are presented. The genetic changes underlying the evolution of the virus strains and sensitivity to antiviral drugs were analyzed. Significant changes in the genetic structure of influenza A viruses circulating in the Russian Federation and their phylogenetic affiliation are shown to occur within the studied period. The studies identifying codons under the positive selection in silico in the genes encoding surface proteins of the influenza virus were demonstrated to be efficient for the analysis of the antigenic drift and direction of evolutionary variability of the influenza viruses.
