title: Genetic analysis of polymerase complex (PA, PB1 and PB2) genes of H9N2 avian influenza viruses from Iran (1999 to 2009).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the molecular characterization of Polymerase complex (PA, PB1 and PB2) genes of H9N2 avian influenza viruses and the genetic relationship of Iranian H9N2 viruses and other Asian viruses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Polymerase complex (PA, PB1 and PB2) genes from seven isolates of H9N2 viruses isolated from commercial chickens in Iran during 2008-2009 were amplified (by RT-PCR method) and sequenced. Nucleotide sequences (Open Reading Frame: orf) of the PA, PB1 and PB2 genes were used for phylogenetic tree construction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most PB2 and PA genes of the H9N2 viruses isolated in 2008-2009 belonged to the unknown avian sublineage which grouped with the 2004 Pakistani H7N3 viruses. The PB1 genes of Iranian viruses indicated greater genetic diversity and shared a high level of similarity to PB1 genes from either H5 or H7 subtypes with compared to established H9N2 Eurasian sublineages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrated that the H9N2 viruses in Iran exhibit striking reassortment which has led to the generation of new genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Avian Diseases, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar Branch, Khozestan, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soltanialvar
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goodarzi
authors.forename: Farshad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akbarnejad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000821:virology*; D007492:Iran; D010154:Pakistan; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C061290:PA protein, influenza viruses; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
keywords: Avian influenza; Genetic analysis; Iran; Polymerase complex