scholarly journals DRIFT OF INFLUENA A(H3N2) VIRUS: BIOLOGICAL, ANTIGENIC AND GENETIC PROPERTIES IN EPIDEMIC SEASON 2016-2017 IN RUSSIA AND COUNTRIES OF THE NOTHERN HEMYSPHERE

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. K. Lvov ◽  
E. I. Burtseva ◽  
E. S. Kirillova ◽  
L. V. Kolobukhina ◽  
E. A. Mukasheva ◽  
...  

The article presents the features of the influenza virus circulation for the period from October 2016 to May 2017 in some territories of Russia collaborating with the D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Federal State Budgetary Institution “N.F. Gamaleya Federal Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology”, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. One of the 2016-2017 season’s peculiarities in Russia and countries of the Northern hemisphere was the earlier start of an increase in ARD morbidity with peak indexes reached towards the end of December 2016 - January 2017. First, influenza A(H3N2) virus was predominant; then, it was followed by influenza B virus activity observed until the end of the season. The indexes of morbidity were higher than in the previous season, while the rates of hospitalization and mortality were lower, lethal cases being detected in persons 65 years old and older. Epidemic strains of influenza A(H3N2) virus belonged to 3c.2a genetic group, reference strain A/Hong Hong/4408/2014, and its subgroup 3c.2a1, reference A/Bolzano/7/2016, that are antigenically similar. Strains of influenza B virus were antigenically similar to the B/Brisbane/60/2008 vaccine virus. Strains were sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir. The share participation of non-influenza ARI viruses was similar to preliminary epidemic seasons. WHO has issued recommendations for influenza virus vaccines composition for 2017-2018 for the Northern hemisphere.

Author(s):  
M.E. Ignat’eva ◽  
I.Yu. Samoilova ◽  
L.V. Budatsyrenova ◽  
T.V. Korita ◽  
O.E. Trotsenko

We analyzed the epidemiological situations on influenza and acute respiratory viral infections during the 2015–2016, 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 epidemic seasons in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 epidemic seasons differed from the previous ones by a rather high intensity of the epidemic process, moderate duration of the epidemic awareness with a two-wave pattern of the course, high morbidity of the population at the epidemic peak and the absence of the disease’s severe forms in those vaccinated against influenza. During the 2015–2016 epidemic season, the influenza A (H1N1) virus was the dominant pathogen in Yakutia. During the 2016–2017 epidemic season, the first morbidity awareness was caused by the influenza A (H3N2) virus, the second morbidity awareness was caused by the influenza B virus. In contrast to previous two seasons the 2017–2018 epidemic season is characterized by lower intensity, a significant morbidity decrease of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections in different age groups of the population and a low level of influenza viruses' circulation. Influenza A (H3N2) virus dominated and joined influenza B virus circulation was registered subsequently during the 2017–2018 epidemic season.


Author(s):  
Pınar YAZICI ÖZKAYA ◽  
Eşe Eda TURANLI ◽  
Hamdi METİN ◽  
Ayça Aydın UYSAL ◽  
Candan ÇİÇEK ◽  
...  

1978 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Masurel ◽  
J. I. de Bruijne ◽  
H. A. Beuningh ◽  
H. J. A. Schouten

SUMMARYHaemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies against the influenza viruses A/Hong Kong/8/68 (H3N2) and B/Nederland/77/66 were determined in 420 paired sera from mothers and newborns (umbilical cord sera), sampled in 1970–1.A higher concentration of antibodies against influenza A virus was found more frequently in neonatal than in maternal sera. By contrast, low titres against influenza B virus were more frequently observed in neonatal than in maternal sera. Maternal age, duration of pregnancy, and birth-weight did not affect the results of the tests.It is suggested that the titre of the newborn against an epidemic influenza virus can be predicted from that of the mother. Furthermore, the maternal titre may be an indication of the susceptibility of the newborn infant to influenza infections.


mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mira C. Patel ◽  
Kari Ann Shirey ◽  
Marina S. Boukhvalova ◽  
Stefanie N. Vogel ◽  
Jorge C. G. Blanco

ABSTRACT Host-derived “danger-associated molecular patterns” (DAMPs) contribute to innate immune responses and serve as markers of disease progression and severity for inflammatory and infectious diseases. There is accumulating evidence that generation of DAMPs such as oxidized phospholipids and high-mobility-group box 1 (HMGB1) during influenza virus infection leads to acute lung injury (ALI). Treatment of influenza virus-infected mice and cotton rats with the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antagonist Eritoran blocked DAMP accumulation and ameliorated influenza virus-induced ALI. However, changes in systemic HMGB1 kinetics during the course of influenza virus infection in animal models and humans have yet to establish an association of HMGB1 release with influenza virus infection. To this end, we used the cotton rat model that is permissive to nonadapted strains of influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and human rhinoviruses (HRVs). Serum HMGB1 levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) prior to infection until day 14 or 18 post-infection. Infection with either influenza A or B virus resulted in a robust increase in serum HMGB1 levels that decreased by days 14 to 18. Inoculation with the live attenuated vaccine FluMist resulted in HMGB1 levels that were significantly lower than those with infection with live influenza viruses. RSV and HRVs showed profiles of serum HMGB1 induction that were consistent with their replication and degree of lung pathology in cotton rats. We further showed that therapeutic treatment with Eritoran of cotton rats infected with influenza B virus significantly blunted serum HMGB1 levels and improved lung pathology, without inhibiting virus replication. These findings support the use of drugs that block HMGB1 to combat influenza virus-induced ALI. IMPORTANCE Influenza virus is a common infectious agent causing serious seasonal epidemics, and there is urgent need to develop an alternative treatment modality for influenza virus infection. Recently, host-derived DAMPs, such as oxidized phospholipids and HMGB1, were shown to be generated during influenza virus infection and cause ALI. To establish a clear link between influenza virus infection and HMGB1 as a biomarker, we have systematically analyzed temporal patterns of serum HMGB1 release in cotton rats infected with nonadapted strains of influenza A and B viruses and compared these patterns with a live attenuated influenza vaccine and infection by other respiratory viruses. Towards development of a new therapeutic modality, we show herein that blocking serum HMGB1 levels by Eritoran improves lung pathology in influenza B virus-infected cotton rats. Our study is the first report of systemic HMGB1 as a potential biomarker of severity in respiratory virus infections and confirms that drugs that block virus-induced HMGB1 ameliorate ALI.


2020 ◽  
pp. 153537022096379
Author(s):  
Oraphan Mayuramart ◽  
Pattaraporn Nimsamer ◽  
Somruthai Rattanaburi ◽  
Naphat Chantaravisoot ◽  
Kritsada Khongnomnan ◽  
...  

Due to the common symptoms of COVID-19, patients are similar to influenza-like illness. Therefore, the detection method would be crucial to discriminate between SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus-infected patients. In this study, CRISPR-Cas12a-based detection was applied for detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A virus, and influenza B virus which would be a practical and attractive application for screening of patients with COVID-19 and influenza in areas with limited resources. The limit of detection for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B detection was 10, 103, and 103 copies/reaction, respectively. Moreover, the assays yielded no cross-reactivity against other respiratory viruses. The results revealed that the detection of influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 by using RT-RPA and CRISPR-Cas12a technology reaches 96.23% sensitivity and 100% specificity for SARS-CoV-2 detection. The sensitivity for influenza virus A and B detections was 85.07% and 94.87%, respectively. In addition, the specificity for influenza virus A and B detections was approximately 96%. In conclusion, the RT-RPA with CRISPR-Cas12a assay was an effective method for the screening of influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2 which could be applied to detect other infectious diseases in the future.


2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (6) ◽  
pp. 961-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Schäffer Gregianini ◽  
Ivana R Santos Varella ◽  
Patricia Fisch ◽  
Letícia Garay Martins ◽  
Ana B G Veiga

Abstract Influenza surveillance is important for disease control and should consider possible coinfection with different viruses, which can be associated with disease severity. This study analyzed 34 459 patients with respiratory infection from 2009 to 2018, of whom 8011 were positive for influenza A virus (IAV) or influenza B virus (IBV). We found 18 cases of dual influenza virus infection, including coinfection with 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus (A[H1N1]pdm09) and influenza A(H3N2) virus (1 case), A(H1N1)pdm09 and IBV (6 cases), A(H3N2) and IBV (8 cases), and nonsubtyped IAV and IBV (3 cases); and 1 case of triple infection with A(H3N2), A(H1N1)pdm09, and IBV. Compared with 76 monoinfected patients, coinfection was significantly associated with cardiopathy and death. Besides demographic characteristics and clinical symptoms, we assessed vaccination status, antiviral treatment, timeliness of antiviral use, hospitalization, and intensive care unit admission, but no significant differences were found between coinfected and monoinfected cases. Our findings indicate that influenza virus coinfection occurs more often than previously reported and that it can lead to a worse disease outcome.


2017 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 12-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakefet Pando ◽  
Yaron Drori ◽  
Nehemya Friedman ◽  
Aharona Glatman-Freedman ◽  
Hanna Sefty ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
pp. 26-28
Author(s):  
I. A. Malchikov ◽  
A. V. Slobodenyuk ◽  
I. V. Vyalykh ◽  
A. Yu. Markaran ◽  
Yu. V. Grigorieva ◽  
...  

Donor blood serum was tested to detect antibodies against circulating influenza viruses. The titer of specific antibodies was determined in the hemagglutination inhibition test (RTGA) against influenza viruses A/California/07/09(H1N1) pdm09, A/HongKong/4801/14(H3N2) and B/Brisben/46/15. In the pre-epidemic period 2018–2019, the immune layer of people with conditionally protective titers of antiviral antibodies was detected in terms of the lowest to A(H3N2) virus (50.0 %), the highest to influenza B (85.4 %). In the post-epidemic season of 2018–2019, the immune layer to influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 virus did not change significantly, which could indicate the preservation of the activity of this virus in the adult population; an increase in the immune layer of individuals with protective titers of antibodies to influenza A(H3N2) – 67.4 % and a decrease in influenza B virus – 49.2 %. A comparison of the results of laboratory data carried out in the pre- and post-epidemic seasons revealed significant differences in the number of people with average antibody titers against influenza A(H3N2) and B viruses (p < 0.05).


2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan E. Ermler ◽  
Ericka Kirkpatrick ◽  
Weina Sun ◽  
Rong Hai ◽  
Fatima Amanat ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Seasonal influenza virus epidemics represent a significant public health burden. Approximately 25% of all influenza virus infections are caused by type B viruses, and these infections can be severe, especially in children. Current influenza virus vaccines are an effective prophylaxis against infection but are impacted by rapid antigenic drift, which can lead to mismatches between vaccine strains and circulating strains. Here, we describe a broadly protective vaccine candidate based on chimeric hemagglutinins, consisting of globular head domains from exotic influenza A viruses and stalk domains from influenza B viruses. Sequential vaccination with these constructs in mice leads to the induction of broadly reactive antibodies that bind to the conserved stalk domain of influenza B virus hemagglutinin. Vaccinated mice are protected from lethal challenge with diverse influenza B viruses. Results from serum transfer experiments and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assays indicate that this protection is antibody mediated and based on Fc effector functions. The present data suggest that chimeric hemagglutinin-based vaccination is a viable strategy to broadly protect against influenza B virus infection. IMPORTANCE While current influenza virus vaccines are effective, they are affected by mismatches between vaccine strains and circulating strains. Furthermore, the antiviral drug oseltamivir is less effective for treating influenza B virus infections than for treating influenza A virus infections. A vaccine that induces broad and long-lasting protection against influenza B viruses is therefore urgently needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Nattapol Narong ◽  
Siriwat Manajit ◽  
Sirikarn Athipanyasil ◽  
Niracha Athipanyasilp ◽  
Ruengpung Sutthent ◽  
...  

Background: Influenza A (pandemic and seasonal H1/H3) and influenza B viruses were the predominant circulating seasonal influenza strains. Following its massive outbreak in 2009 globally, including Thailand, influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 viruses have replaced the previous seasonal H1 strain and become one of the circulating strains ever since. Both influenza A and B viruses are highly contagious and potentially cause respiratory illness ranging from mild to severe. Objective: To determine the prevalence of types and subtypes of circulating influenza virus strains in Bangkok, Thailand during 2013 - 2017. Methods: The 4385 nasopharyngeal wash specimens were collected from patients presented with influenza-like illness from January 2013 to December 2017 at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Influenza virus types and subtypes were determined using real-time RT-PCR technique. Clinical characteristics of patients infected with influenza A viruses and influenza B virus were compared and analyzed. Results: Of 4385 nasopharyngeal wash specimens, the prevalence of influenza virus infection during 2013 - 2017 was 18.22% (n = 799). Of 799 influenza-positive samples, 608 (76.09%) and 191 (23.90%) samples were positive for influenza A and influenza B viruses, respectively. Most patients were presented with fever, cough, and runny nose; however, patients infected with influenza A virus generally had higher severity than those with influenza B virus infection (P < .05). Conclusions: The findings provided the characteristics of influenza virus types and subtypes at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand during 2013 - 2017. Sporadic cases of influenza occurred all year round, but the incidence peaked in March 2014 and August 2017. The outcomes of this study are potentially useful for prevention, treatment, and disease monitoring.  


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