Genotypic diversity of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
Besides enormous economic losses to the poultry industry, recent H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) originating in eastern Asia have posed serious threats to public health. Up to April 17, 2008, 381 human cases had been confirmed with a mortality of more than 60 %. Here, we attempt to identify potential progenitor genes for H5N1 HPAIVs since their first recognition in 1996; most were detected in the Eurasian landmass before 1996. Combinations among these progenitor genes generated at least 21 reassortants (named H5N1 progenitor reassortant, H5N1-PR1-21). H5N1-PR1 includes A/Goose/Guangdong/1/1996(H5N1). Only reassortants H5N1-PR2 and H5N1-PR7 were associated with confirmed human cases: H5N1-PR2 in the Hong Kong H5N1 outbreak in 1997 and H5N1-PR7 in laboratory confirmed human cases since 2003. H5N1-PR7 also contains a majority of the H5N1 viruses causing avian influenza outbreaks in birds, including the first wave of genotype Z, Qinghai-like and Fujian-like virus lineages. Among the 21 reassortants identified, 13 are first reported here. This study illustrates evolutionary patterns of H5N1 HPAIVs, which may be useful toward pandemic preparedness as well as avian influenza prevention and control.
Zhao
Zi-Ming
ZM
School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.|Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
Shortridge
Kennedy F
KF
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Garcia
Maricarmen
M
Department of Avian Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Guan
Yi
Y
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Wan
Xiu-Feng
XF
School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.|Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.