Identification and characterization of a novel antigenic epitope in the hemagglutinin of the escape mutants of H9N2 avian influenza viruses

Yinbiao Zhu; Da Yang; Qian Ren; Yang Yang; Xin Liu; Xiulong Xu; Wei Liu; Sujuan Chen; Daxin Peng; Xiufan Liu

doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.04.012

Identification and characterization of a novel antigenic epitope in the hemagglutinin of the escape mutants of H9N2 avian influenza viruses

Vet Microbiol. 2015 Jul 9;178(1-2):144-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.04.012. Epub 2015 Apr 23.

Authors

Yinbiao Zhu¹, Da Yang¹, Qian Ren¹, Yang Yang¹, Xin Liu¹, Xiulong Xu¹, Wei Liu², Sujuan Chen³, Daxin Peng⁴, Xiufan Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Jiangsu Research Centre of Engineering and Technology for Prevention and Control of Poultry Disease, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
² China Animal Disease Control Center, Beijing 100123, PR China.
³ College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Jiangsu Research Centre of Engineering and Technology for Prevention and Control of Poultry Disease, Yangzhou 225009, PR China. Electronic address: chensj@yzu.edu.cn.
⁴ College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Jiangsu Research Centre of Engineering and Technology for Prevention and Control of Poultry Disease, Yangzhou 225009, PR China. Electronic address: pengdx@yzu.edu.cn.

PMID: 25934533
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.04.012

Abstract

H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) evolves rapidly in both genovariation and antigenicity. It is essential to monitor the change of antigenicity, in particular in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein. Here we reported the selection of antigenic variants from A/Chicken/Shanghai/F/98 (H9N2) and A/chicken/Taixing/10/2010 (H9N2) viruses using HA-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Based on the reactivity of these variant and wild-type strains with the MAbs, we identified 6 critical amino acid positions (92, 145, 166, 167, 168, and 197) in the H9 antigenic sites, including the position 92 that has never been reported. Among AIVs originated from chicken in mainland China, the rates of Gly and Arg at position 92 within BJ/94-like (A/chicken/Beijing/1/1994) lineage viruses were 62.2% (28/45) and 37.8% (17/45), respectively; whereas the rates of Gly and Arg at position 92 within Y280-like (A/duck/Hong Kong/Y280/97) lineage viruses were 0.3% (2/670) and 99.1% (673/679), respectively. Our study suggests that G92R mutation together with other identified antigenic sites may serve as molecular markers for H9N2 virus evolution, and may aid improving AIV vaccine effectiveness.

Keywords: Antigenic site; H9N2 avian influenza viruses; Hemagglutinin; Monoclonal antibodies.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Antigenic Variation / genetics*
Antigens, Viral / genetics*
Chickens
China
Ducks
Epitopes / genetics*
Epitopes / immunology
Evolution, Molecular*
Hemagglutinins / genetics*
Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / genetics*

Substances

Antigens, Viral
Epitopes
Hemagglutinins