The emergence of new antigen branches of H9N2 avian influenza virus in China due to antigenic drift on hemagglutinin through antibody escape at immunodominant sites.

ABSTRACT: Vaccination is a crucial prevention and control measure against H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) that threaten poultry production and public health. However, H9N2 AIVs in China undergo continuous antigenic drift of hemagglutinin (HA) under antibody pressure, leading to the emergence of immune escape variants. In this study, we investigated the molecular basis of the current widespread antigenic drift of H9N2 AIVs. Specifically, the most prevalent h9.4.2.5-lineage in China was divided into two antigenic branches based on monoclonal antibody (mAb) hemagglutination inhibition (HI) profiling analysis, and 12 antibody escape residues were identified as molecular markers of these two branches. The 12 escape residues were mapped to antigenic sites A, B, and E (H3 was used as the reference). Am

SUBMITTER: Zhang N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10444018 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature