Fatal cases of influenza A(H3N2) in children: insights from whole genome sequence analysis.

During the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2003-2004 the emergence of a novel influenza antigenic variant, A/Fujian/411/2002-like(H3N2), was associated with an unusually high number of fatalities in children. Seventeen fatal cases in the UK were laboratory confirmed for Fujian/411-like viruses. To loo...

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Main Authors: Monica Galiano, Benjamin F Johnson, Richard Myers, Joanna Ellis, Rod Daniels, Maria Zambon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0033166&type=printable
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author Monica Galiano
Benjamin F Johnson
Richard Myers
Joanna Ellis
Rod Daniels
Maria Zambon
author_facet Monica Galiano
Benjamin F Johnson
Richard Myers
Joanna Ellis
Rod Daniels
Maria Zambon
author_sort Monica Galiano
collection DOAJ
description During the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2003-2004 the emergence of a novel influenza antigenic variant, A/Fujian/411/2002-like(H3N2), was associated with an unusually high number of fatalities in children. Seventeen fatal cases in the UK were laboratory confirmed for Fujian/411-like viruses. To look for phylogenetic patterns and genetic markers that might be associated with increased virulence, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the whole genomes of 63 viruses isolated from fatal cases and non fatal "control" cases was undertaken. The analysis revealed the circulation of two main genetic groups, I and II, both of which contained viruses from fatal cases. No associated amino acid substitutions could be linked with an exclusive or higher occurrence in fatal cases. The Fujian/411-like viruses in genetic groups I and II completely displaced other A(H3N2) viruses, but they disappeared after 2004. This study shows that two A(H3N2) virus genotypes circulated exclusively during the winter of 2003-2004 in the UK and caused an unusually high number of deaths in children. Host factors related to immune state and differences in genetic background between patients may also play important roles in determining the outcome of an influenza infection.
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spelling doaj-art-b812c4f254964e7dbe23ff08b0576bf02025-08-20T02:08:57ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032012-01-0173e3316610.1371/journal.pone.0033166Fatal cases of influenza A(H3N2) in children: insights from whole genome sequence analysis.Monica GalianoBenjamin F JohnsonRichard MyersJoanna EllisRod DanielsMaria ZambonDuring the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2003-2004 the emergence of a novel influenza antigenic variant, A/Fujian/411/2002-like(H3N2), was associated with an unusually high number of fatalities in children. Seventeen fatal cases in the UK were laboratory confirmed for Fujian/411-like viruses. To look for phylogenetic patterns and genetic markers that might be associated with increased virulence, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the whole genomes of 63 viruses isolated from fatal cases and non fatal "control" cases was undertaken. The analysis revealed the circulation of two main genetic groups, I and II, both of which contained viruses from fatal cases. No associated amino acid substitutions could be linked with an exclusive or higher occurrence in fatal cases. The Fujian/411-like viruses in genetic groups I and II completely displaced other A(H3N2) viruses, but they disappeared after 2004. This study shows that two A(H3N2) virus genotypes circulated exclusively during the winter of 2003-2004 in the UK and caused an unusually high number of deaths in children. Host factors related to immune state and differences in genetic background between patients may also play important roles in determining the outcome of an influenza infection.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0033166&type=printable
spellingShingle Monica Galiano
Benjamin F Johnson
Richard Myers
Joanna Ellis
Rod Daniels
Maria Zambon
Fatal cases of influenza A(H3N2) in children: insights from whole genome sequence analysis.
PLoS ONE
title Fatal cases of influenza A(H3N2) in children: insights from whole genome sequence analysis.
title_full Fatal cases of influenza A(H3N2) in children: insights from whole genome sequence analysis.
title_fullStr Fatal cases of influenza A(H3N2) in children: insights from whole genome sequence analysis.
title_full_unstemmed Fatal cases of influenza A(H3N2) in children: insights from whole genome sequence analysis.
title_short Fatal cases of influenza A(H3N2) in children: insights from whole genome sequence analysis.
title_sort fatal cases of influenza a h3n2 in children insights from whole genome sequence analysis
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0033166&type=printable
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