title: Antigenic and genetic evolution of equine H3N8 influenza A viruses.
abstract: Evolution of equine influenza a H3N8 viruses was examined by antigenic and genetic analysis of a collection isolates from around the world. It was noted that antigenic and genetic variants of equine H3N8 viruses cocirculate, and in particular that variants currently circulating in Europe and the USA are distinguishable from one another both in terms of antigenic reactivity and genetic structure of the HA1 portion of the haemagglutinin (HA) molecule. Whilst the divergent evolution of American and European isolates may be due to geographical isolation of the two gene pools, some mixing is believed to occur as 'American-like' viruses have been isolated during outbreaks of equine influenza in the UK. The cocirculation of two antigenically and genetically distinct lineages of equine influenza H3N8 viruses has serious implications for vaccine strain selection.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Suffolk, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Binns
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barrandeguy
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mumford
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002642:Chick Embryo; D018397:Equidae / Q000821:virology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005289:Ferrets / Q000276:immunology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D053123:Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral