Rapid evolution of A(H5N1) influenza viruses after intercontinental spread to North America
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2023-05-29
- Type
- Article
- Author(s)
- Kandeil, Ahmed
- Patton, Christopher
- Jones, Jeremy C.
- Jeevan, Trushar
- Harrington, Walter N.
- Trifkovic, Sanja
- Seiler, Jon P.
- Fabrizio, Thomas
- Woodard, Karlie
- Turner, Jasmine C.
- Crumpton, Jeri-Carol
- Miller, Lance
- Rubrum, Adam
- DeBeauchamp, Jennifer
- Russell, Charles J.
- Govorkova, Elena A.
- Vogel, Peter
- Kim-Torchetti, Mia
- Berhane, Yohannes
- Stallknecht, David
- Poulson, Rebecca
- Kercher, Lisa
- Webby, Richard J.
- Publisher
- Nature Research
Abstract
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b underwent an explosive geographic expansion in 2021 among wild birds and domestic poultry across Asia, Europe, and Africa. By the end of 2021, 2.3.4.4b viruses were detected in North America, signifying further intercontinental spread. Here we show that the western movement of clade 2.3.4.4b was quickly followed by reassortment with viruses circulating in wild birds in North America, resulting in the acquisition of different combinations of ribonucleoprotein genes. These reassortant A(H5N1) viruses are genotypically and phenotypically diverse, with many causing severe disease with dramatic neurologic involvement in mammals. The proclivity of the current A(H5N1) 2.3.4.4b virus lineage to reassort and target the central nervous system warrants concerted planning to combat the spread and evolution of the virus within the continent and to mitigate the impact of a potential influenza pandemic that could originate from similar A(H5N1) reassortants.
Subject
- Nature and environment,
- Health and safety
Keywords
- Influenzavirus A (H5N1),
- Phylogeny,
- Avian influenza,
- Bird flu
Rights
Pagination
1-13
Peer review
Yes
Open access level
Gold
Identifiers
- ISSN
- 2041-1723
Article
- Journal title
- Nature Communications
- Journal volume
- 14
- Article number
- 3082
- Accepted date
- 2023-04-27
- Submitted date
- 2022-10-20
Citation(s)
Kandeil, A., Patton, C., Jones, J. C., Jeevan, T., Harrington, W. N., Trifkovic, S., Seiler, J. P., Fabrizio, T., Woodard, K., Turner, J. C., Crumpton, J.-C., Miller, L., Rubrum, A., DeBeauchamp, J., Russell, C. J., Govorkova, E. A., Vogel, P., Kim-Torchetti, M., Berhane, Y., Stallknecht, D., Poulson, R., Kercher, L., & Webby, R. J. (2023). Rapid evolution of A(H5N1) influenza viruses after intercontinental spread to North America. Nature Communications, 14, Article 3082. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38415-7