Reassortment Dynamics: Phylogeography and Evolution of H4N9 Influenza Viruses
A characteristic feature of influenza A viruses is their high capacity for reassortment, significantly increasing their genetic diversity. This can lead to the formation of influenza A virus variants with unique phenotypic characteristics, particularly those with pandemic potential. Representatives...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/469 |
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| author | Nataliia A. Bobrova Ekaterina D. Lisenenkova Ekaterina S. Avsievich Olga N. Mityaeva Pavel Yu Volchkov Andrey A. Deviatkin |
| author_facet | Nataliia A. Bobrova Ekaterina D. Lisenenkova Ekaterina S. Avsievich Olga N. Mityaeva Pavel Yu Volchkov Andrey A. Deviatkin |
| author_sort | Nataliia A. Bobrova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A characteristic feature of influenza A viruses is their high capacity for reassortment, significantly increasing their genetic diversity. This can lead to the formation of influenza A virus variants with unique phenotypic characteristics, particularly those with pandemic potential. Representatives of the H4N9 subtype are low-pathogenic influenza A (LPAI) viruses. Despite their low pandemic potential, these viruses may represent an important reservoir of genes for genetic exchange with other IAVs. Here, we analyzed the reassortment events of H4N9 viruses using all publicly available sequences. Several computational approaches, including phylogenetic reconstructions and reassortment detection algorithms (PDDM and PDCP), were used to identify phylogenetic incongruences. Numerous reassortment events were detected in H4N9 viruses, especially in the NS segment. This suggests extensive genetic exchange with other avian and mammalian IAVs. In addition, a comparison of phylogenetic and geographic patterns suggests that H4N9 viruses have undergone multiple trans-regional transmissions. These results suggest that LPAI viruses make a significant contribution to the overall influenza gene pool, increasing the likelihood of the emergence of new IAV variants with unpredictable phenotypic characteristics. However, our results suggest that the current understanding of the real distribution and genetic diversity is fragmented. Therefore, better monitoring and surveillance of H4N9 viruses should improve influenza pandemic preparedness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f4ecffcf605450b825c8bcea09f52a7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f4ecffcf605450b825c8bcea09f52a72025-08-20T03:14:43ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-05-0114546910.3390/pathogens14050469Reassortment Dynamics: Phylogeography and Evolution of H4N9 Influenza VirusesNataliia A. Bobrova0Ekaterina D. Lisenenkova1Ekaterina S. Avsievich2Olga N. Mityaeva3Pavel Yu Volchkov4Andrey A. Deviatkin5Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, 125315 Moscow, RussiaFederal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, 125315 Moscow, RussiaFederal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, 125315 Moscow, RussiaFederal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, 125315 Moscow, RussiaFederal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, 125315 Moscow, RussiaLaboratory of Postgenomic Technologies, Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health, 105275 Moscow, RussiaA characteristic feature of influenza A viruses is their high capacity for reassortment, significantly increasing their genetic diversity. This can lead to the formation of influenza A virus variants with unique phenotypic characteristics, particularly those with pandemic potential. Representatives of the H4N9 subtype are low-pathogenic influenza A (LPAI) viruses. Despite their low pandemic potential, these viruses may represent an important reservoir of genes for genetic exchange with other IAVs. Here, we analyzed the reassortment events of H4N9 viruses using all publicly available sequences. Several computational approaches, including phylogenetic reconstructions and reassortment detection algorithms (PDDM and PDCP), were used to identify phylogenetic incongruences. Numerous reassortment events were detected in H4N9 viruses, especially in the NS segment. This suggests extensive genetic exchange with other avian and mammalian IAVs. In addition, a comparison of phylogenetic and geographic patterns suggests that H4N9 viruses have undergone multiple trans-regional transmissions. These results suggest that LPAI viruses make a significant contribution to the overall influenza gene pool, increasing the likelihood of the emergence of new IAV variants with unpredictable phenotypic characteristics. However, our results suggest that the current understanding of the real distribution and genetic diversity is fragmented. Therefore, better monitoring and surveillance of H4N9 viruses should improve influenza pandemic preparedness.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/469virusinfluenza Areassortmentviral segmentH4N9 |
| spellingShingle | Nataliia A. Bobrova Ekaterina D. Lisenenkova Ekaterina S. Avsievich Olga N. Mityaeva Pavel Yu Volchkov Andrey A. Deviatkin Reassortment Dynamics: Phylogeography and Evolution of H4N9 Influenza Viruses Pathogens virus influenza A reassortment viral segment H4N9 |
| title | Reassortment Dynamics: Phylogeography and Evolution of H4N9 Influenza Viruses |
| title_full | Reassortment Dynamics: Phylogeography and Evolution of H4N9 Influenza Viruses |
| title_fullStr | Reassortment Dynamics: Phylogeography and Evolution of H4N9 Influenza Viruses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reassortment Dynamics: Phylogeography and Evolution of H4N9 Influenza Viruses |
| title_short | Reassortment Dynamics: Phylogeography and Evolution of H4N9 Influenza Viruses |
| title_sort | reassortment dynamics phylogeography and evolution of h4n9 influenza viruses |
| topic | virus influenza A reassortment viral segment H4N9 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/469 |
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