title: Genesis and Dissemination of Highly Pathogenic H5N6 Avian Influenza Viruses.
abstract: Clade 2.3.4.4 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (H5Nx) have spread from Asia to other parts of the world. Since 2014, human infections with clade 2.3.4.4 highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N6 viruses have been continuously reported in China. To investigate the genesis of the virus, we analyzed 123 H5 or N6 environmental viruses sampled from live-poultry markets or farms from 2012 to 2015 in Mainland China. Our results indicated that clade 2.3.4.4 H5N2/N6/N8 viruses shared the same hemagglutinin gene as originated in early 2009. From 2012 to 2015, the genesis of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N6 viruses occurred via two independent pathways. Three major reassortant H5N6 viruses (reassortants A, B, and C) were generated. Internal genes of reassortant A and B viruses and reassortant C viruses derived from clade 2.3.2.1c H5N1 and H9N2 viruses, respectively. Many mammalian adaption mutations and antigenic variations were detected among the three reassortant viruses. Considering their wide circulation and dynamic reassortment in poultry, we highly recommend close monitoring of the viruses in poultry and humans.IMPORTANCESince 2014, clade 2.3.4.4 highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5Nx) viruses have caused many outbreaks in both wild and domestic birds globally. Severe human cases with novel H5N6 viruses in this group were also reported in China in 2014 and 2015. To investigate the genesis of the genetic diversity of these H5N6 viruses, we sequenced 123 H5 or N6 environmental viruses sampled from 2012 to 2015 in China. Sequence analysis indicated that three major reassortants of these H5N6 viruses had been generated by two independent evolutionary pathways. The H5N6 reassortant viruses had been detected in most provinces of southern China and neighboring countries. Considering the mammalian adaption mutations and antigenic variation detected, the spread of these viruses should be monitored carefully due to their pandemic potential.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenfei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaodan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shumei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rongbao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenbing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Libo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yongcai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China dayanwang@cnic.org.cn yshu@cnic.org.cn.
authors.forename: Dayan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Collaboration Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China dayanwang@cnic.org.cn yshu@cnic.org.cn.
authors.forename: Yuelong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004372:Ducks; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005814:Genes, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014774:Virulence
keywords: H5N6; highly pathogenic avian influenza; reassortment