On the lookout for influenza viruses in Italy during the 2021-2022 season: Along came A(H3N2) viruses with a new phylogenetic makeup of their hemagglutinin.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To assess influenza viruses (IVs) circulation and to evaluate A(H3N2) molecular evolution during the 2021-2022 season in Italy.

Materials and methods

12,393 respiratory specimens (nasopharyngeal swabs or broncho-alveolar lavages) collected from in/outpatients with influenza illness in the period spanning from January 1, 2022 (week 2022-01) to May 31, 2022 (week 2022-22) were analysed to identify IV genome and were molecularly characterized by 12 laboratories throughout Italy. A(H3N2) evolution was studied by conducting an in-depth phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene sequences. The predicted vaccine efficacy (pVE) of vaccine strain against circulating A(H3N2) viruses was estimated using the sequence-based P_epitope model.

Results

The ove

SUBMITTER: Galli C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10194219 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature