Homologous recombination is very rare or absent in human influenza A virus.
To determine the extent of homologous recombination in human influenza A virus, we assembled a data set of 13,852 sequences representing all eight segments and both major circulating subtypes, H3N2 and H1N1. Using an exhaustive search and a nonparametric test for mosaic structure, we identified 315 sequences (approximately 2%) in five different RNA segments that, after a multiple-comparison correction, had statistically significant mosaic signals compatible with homologous recombination. Of these, only two contained recombinant regions of sufficient length (>100 nucleotides [nt]) that the occurrence of homologous recombination could be verified using phylogenetic methods, with the rest involving very short sequence regions (15 to 30 nt). Although this secondary analysis revealed patterns of phylogenetic incongruence compatible with the action of recombination, neither candidate recombinant was strongly supported. Given our inability to exclude the occurrence of mixed infection and template switching during amplification, laboratory artifacts provide an alternative and likely explanation for the occurrence of phylogenetic incongruence in these two cases. We therefore conclude that, if it occurs at all, homologous recombination plays only a very minor role in the evolution of human influenza A virus.
Boni
Maciej F
MF
Resources for the Future, 1616 P St. NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA. boni@rff.org
Zhou
Yang
Y
Taubenberger
Jeffery K
JK
Holmes
Edward C
EC
D019295:Computational Biology; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics*; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D012367:RNA, Viral