H9N2 influenza virus in China: a cause of concern.
The recent human infection with avian influenza virus revealed that H9N2 influenza virus is the gene donor for H7N9 and H10N8 viruses infecting humans. The crucial role of H9N2 viruses at the animal-human interface might be due to the wide host range, adaptation in both poultry and mammalian, and extensive gene reassortment. As the most prevalent subtype of influenza viruses in chickens in China, H9N2 also causes a great economic loss for the poultry industry, even under the long-term vaccination programs. The history, epidemiology, biological characteristics, and molecular determinants of H9N2 influenza virus are reviewed in this paper. The contribution of H9N2 genes, especially RNP genes, to the infection of humans needs to be investigated in the future.
Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China.
Yipeng
Y
Sun
Jinhua
J
Liu
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D064766:Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype / Q000235:genetics; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D014611:Vaccination; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism
C502893:PB2 protein, influenza virus; D014764:Viral Proteins