Characterization of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019

Abstract The A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, which caused the 2009 influenza pandemic, has continued to circulate in humans for over a decade. Understanding its biological properties is crucial for effective surveillance, prevention, and control. Here, we characterized recently circulating A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Luthfi Muawan, Kosuke Takada, Sara Yoshimoto, Yurie Kida, Shinji Watanabe, Tokiko Watanabe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Viruses
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00126-9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849325965552910336
author Luthfi Muawan
Kosuke Takada
Sara Yoshimoto
Yurie Kida
Shinji Watanabe
Tokiko Watanabe
author_facet Luthfi Muawan
Kosuke Takada
Sara Yoshimoto
Yurie Kida
Shinji Watanabe
Tokiko Watanabe
author_sort Luthfi Muawan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, which caused the 2009 influenza pandemic, has continued to circulate in humans for over a decade. Understanding its biological properties is crucial for effective surveillance, prevention, and control. Here, we characterized recently circulating A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses, focusing on strains isolated between 2016 and 2019. HA gene-based phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that post-pandemic A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains circulating between 2016 and 2019 form two clusters: subclade 6B.1 and subclade 6B.1 A.5a. Growth kinetics of nine selected representative strains from these clusters showed that subclade 6B.1 viruses replicated well in human lung cells, whereas some subclade 6B.1 A.5a viruses replicated poorly. In vivo, all viruses from both subclades caused significantly less weight loss in infected mice compared to the prototypic pandemic strain A/California/04/2009 (Cal04/2009). Additionally, virus titers in the lungs of mice infected with most viruses from subclade 6B.1 or 6B.1 A.5a were significantly lower than those in mice infected with Cal04/2009. Furthermore, evolutionary analysis suggested multiple transitions to a less pathogenic phenotype, indicating an evolutionary trend towards attenuation. These results demonstrate that A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019 are attenuated in mice, although the mutations responsible for this attenuation require further investigation. Our findings emphasize the need for continued monitoring of A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses to understand their evolutionary dynamics and potential impact on public health.
format Article
id doaj-art-7f3db4d964ec46d59b5a8b99ebffdb69
institution Kabale University
issn 2948-1767
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Viruses
spelling doaj-art-7f3db4d964ec46d59b5a8b99ebffdb692025-08-20T03:48:15ZengNature Portfolionpj Viruses2948-17672025-05-01311910.1038/s44298-025-00126-9Characterization of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019Luthfi Muawan0Kosuke Takada1Sara Yoshimoto2Yurie Kida3Shinji Watanabe4Tokiko Watanabe5Department of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of OsakaDepartment of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of OsakaDepartment of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of OsakaDepartment of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of OsakaResearch Center for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, National Institute of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of Molecular Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of OsakaAbstract The A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, which caused the 2009 influenza pandemic, has continued to circulate in humans for over a decade. Understanding its biological properties is crucial for effective surveillance, prevention, and control. Here, we characterized recently circulating A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses, focusing on strains isolated between 2016 and 2019. HA gene-based phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that post-pandemic A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains circulating between 2016 and 2019 form two clusters: subclade 6B.1 and subclade 6B.1 A.5a. Growth kinetics of nine selected representative strains from these clusters showed that subclade 6B.1 viruses replicated well in human lung cells, whereas some subclade 6B.1 A.5a viruses replicated poorly. In vivo, all viruses from both subclades caused significantly less weight loss in infected mice compared to the prototypic pandemic strain A/California/04/2009 (Cal04/2009). Additionally, virus titers in the lungs of mice infected with most viruses from subclade 6B.1 or 6B.1 A.5a were significantly lower than those in mice infected with Cal04/2009. Furthermore, evolutionary analysis suggested multiple transitions to a less pathogenic phenotype, indicating an evolutionary trend towards attenuation. These results demonstrate that A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019 are attenuated in mice, although the mutations responsible for this attenuation require further investigation. Our findings emphasize the need for continued monitoring of A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses to understand their evolutionary dynamics and potential impact on public health.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00126-9
spellingShingle Luthfi Muawan
Kosuke Takada
Sara Yoshimoto
Yurie Kida
Shinji Watanabe
Tokiko Watanabe
Characterization of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019
npj Viruses
title Characterization of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019
title_full Characterization of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019
title_fullStr Characterization of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019
title_short Characterization of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019
title_sort characterization of a h1n1 pdm09 influenza viruses isolated between 2016 and 2019
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00126-9
work_keys_str_mv AT luthfimuawan characterizationofah1n1pdm09influenzavirusesisolatedbetween2016and2019
AT kosuketakada characterizationofah1n1pdm09influenzavirusesisolatedbetween2016and2019
AT sarayoshimoto characterizationofah1n1pdm09influenzavirusesisolatedbetween2016and2019
AT yuriekida characterizationofah1n1pdm09influenzavirusesisolatedbetween2016and2019
AT shinjiwatanabe characterizationofah1n1pdm09influenzavirusesisolatedbetween2016and2019
AT tokikowatanabe characterizationofah1n1pdm09influenzavirusesisolatedbetween2016and2019