title: [Cuban strategy for the molecular characterization of the pandemic influenza A virus (H1N1)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In April 2009, there was identified a variant of the A/H1N1 influenza virus of swine origin, and shortly after the first pandemic in XXI century was declared.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish a nucleotide sequencing strategy for the differential diagnosis of the seasonal and pandemic influenza A viruses, and to obtain as much molecular information as possible about hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes in patients with influenza-like illnesses, in those with severe respiratory infection and in patients who died.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three sequencing strategies were designed and implemented, which also offered important information about the new virus in Cuba.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The third strategy provided the most comprehensive results such as differential diagnosis, the surveillance of the D222G/E mutation in hemagglutinin and Tamiflu-resistant H275Y viral variants. In spite of the fact that the mentioned mutations were not detected, their presence in the Cuban population can not be ignored since these strategies were not designed for this end. It is imperative to design a study to fulfill this objective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sequencing strategies in our algorithm allowed the differential diagnosis of the seasonal and the pandemic viruses, and their molecular characterization.
authors: Departamento de Virología, IPK, La Habana, Cuba. alexpr@ipk.sld.cu
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Piñón Ramos
authors: Belsy
authors: B
authors: Acosta Herrera
authors: Odalys
authors: O
authors: Valdés Ramírez
authors: Amely
authors: A
authors: Arencibia García
authors: Clara Estela
authors: CE
authors: Savón Valdés
authors: Grehete
authors: G
authors: González Muñoz
authors: Suset Isabel
authors: SI
authors: Oropesa Fernández
authors: Elías
authors: E
authors: Quilarte García
authors: Guelsys
authors: G
authors: González Baez
authors: Bárbara
authors: B
authors: Hernández Espinosa
authors: Angel
authors: A
authors: Goyenechea Hernández
authors: María Guadalupe
authors: MG
authors: Guzmán Tirado
authors: Alina
authors: A
authors: Llop Hernández
authors: Vivian
authors: V
authors: Kourí Cardellá
mesh_terms: D003462:Cuba; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques