Journal article
Unlocking pandemic potential: prevalence and spatial patterns of key substitutions in avian influenza H5N1 in Egyptian isolates
BMC infectious diseases, Vol.18(1), pp.314-314
07/06/2018
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-018-3222-6
PMCID: PMC6035396
PMID: 29980172
Abstract
Background: Avian influenza H5N1 has a high human case fatality rate, but is not yet well-adapted to human hosts. Amino acid substitutions currently circulating in avian populations may enhance viral fitness in, and thus viral adaptation to, human hosts. Substitutions which could increase the risk of a human pandemic (through changes to host specificity, virulence, replication ability, transmissibility, or drug susceptibility) are termed key substitutions (KS). Egypt represents the epicenter of human H5N1 infections, with more confirmed cases than any other country. To date, however, there have not been any spatial analyses of KS in Egypt. Methods: Using 925 viral samples of H5N1 from Egypt, we aligned protein sequences and scanned for KS. We geocoded isolates using dasymetric mapping, then carried out geospatial hot spot analyses to identify spatial clusters of high KS detection rates. KS prevalence and spatial clusters were evaluated for all detected KS, as well as when stratified by phenotypic consequence. Results: A total of 39 distinct KS were detected in the wild, including 17 not previously reported in Egypt. KS were detected in 874 samples (94.5%). Detection rates varied by viral protein with most KS observed in the surface hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins, as well as the interior non-structural 1 (NS1) protein. The most frequently detected KS were associated with increased viral binding to mammalian cells and virulence. Samples with high overall detection rates of KS exhibited statistically significant spatial clustering in two governorates in the northwestern Nile delta, Alexandria and Beheira. Conclusions: KS provide a possible mechanism by which avian influenza H5N1 could evolve into a pandemic candidate. With numerous KS circulating in Egypt, and non-random spatial clustering of KS detection rates, these findings suggest the need for increased surveillance in these areas.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Unlocking pandemic potential: prevalence and spatial patterns of key substitutions in avian influenza H5N1 in Egyptian isolates
- Creators
- Sean G Young - University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesAndrew Kitchen - University of IowaGhazi Kayali - The University of Texas at AustinMargaret Carrel - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- BMC infectious diseases, Vol.18(1), pp.314-314
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12879-018-3222-6
- PMID
- 29980172
- PMCID
- PMC6035396
- NLM abbreviation
- BMC Infect Dis
- ISSN
- 1471-2334
- eISSN
- 1471-2334
- Publisher
- BioMed Central
- Grant note
- 0966130 / ; DMID contract HHSN272201400006C / ;
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/06/2018
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology; International Programs; Epidemiology; Interdisciplinary Programs; Geographical and Sustainability Sciences; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984259387602771
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