title: Molecular analysis of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in Malaysia associated with mild and severe infections.
abstract: The 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) was first detected in Malaysia in May 2009. It quickly spread in the general population and contributed to a number of influenza-like illness. The objective of the study is to characterize genetic changes in early Malaysian isolates of mild and severe illness of the novel influenza, and to compare sequences of viruses circulating in Malaysia to those in other countries between May to September 2009. Viral isolates of 56 mild cases and 10 severe (intensive care unit or fatal) cases were sequenced for haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Genome sequencing of the viral RNA was conducted on 5 isolates (3 were from fatal cases). Highly conserved sequences with few sporadic variations were identified in HA and NA. E374K and D222N were identified in 2 viral isolates from patients with severe illness. Phylogenetic analysis showed close genetic relatedness to the vaccine strain A/California/07/09 and other isolates circulating worldwide during the same period. Sporadic variations were identified in the viral isolates, however a larger sample size is required to make associations with disease severity.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pathology Unit, Cancer Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balraj
authors.forename: Huraizah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sidek
authors.forename: Jeyanthi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suppiah
authors.forename: Alan Soo Beng
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: Zainah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Saat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics*; D058873:Pandemics; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C543345:H1N1 virus hemagglutinin; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D012367:RNA, Viral; D009439:Neuraminidase