1.Analysis of the whole genome characteristics of influenza A (H3N2) virus in Wuxi city from 2022 to 2023
Yong XU ; Rui WANG ; Chun′an YU ; Jing BAO ; Qi ZHOU ; Yong XIAO ; Hong LI ; Xiaoluan SHI ; Guangyuan MA
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2024;38(4):454-463
Objective:To understand the whole genome and genetic evolution characteristics of the first epidemic influenza A (H3N2) viruses in Wuxi from 2022-2023.Methods:Real time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR method was used to perform typing on respiratory samples of influenza cases. Virus isolation was performed on samples with positive nucleic acid of subtype A H3N2 influenza virus detected. After cell culture, nucleic acid was extracted from strains with red blood cell agglutination test (HA) ≥ 1∶8, whole genome sequence was amplified, library was constructed, and computer sequencing was performed using MiSeq sequencer. Using NC_007366.1 as reference strain, the data were analyzed using CLC Genomics Workbench (Version 23) software. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA 7.0 software, and the N-glycosylation sites were predicted by NetNGlyc 1.0 Server software.Results:The nucleotide homology and amino acid homology among 35 strains of influenza A H3N2 virus from 2022 to 2023 were 96.4%-100% and 95.2%-100%, respectively. The 16 epidemic strains in 2022 belong to the 3C.2a1b.2a.1a evolutionary branch, while the 19 epidemic strains in 2023 belong to the 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.3a.1 evolutionary branch. There are 7 differences in the nucleotide sequence of the HA gene between the 2022 epidemic strain and the corresponding vaccine strain, sharing 15 mutation sites; There are 28 differences in the nucleotide sequence of the HA gene between the 2023 epidemic strain and the corresponding vaccine strain, sharing 17 mutation sites. The HA genes of 35 epidemic strains all lack N-glycosylation site 61: NSS, while in 2023, the HA genes of 19 epidemic strains added N-glycosylation site 110: NSS.Conclusions:The HA and NA genes of influenza A H3N2 virus in 2022 and 2023 belong to two evolutionary branches, respectively, and both show specific amino acid site changes compared to the corresponding vaccine strains. The antigen matching between the 2022 epidemic strain and the vaccine strain is relatively good, while there is a risk of low antigen matching between the 2023 epidemic strain and the vaccine strain.