Department of Pathobiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Avian Diseases Research and Diagnostics, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Virus Genes. 2022 Dec;58(6):527-539. doi: 10.1007/s11262-022-01930-8. Epub 2022 Sep 13.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus has received considerable attention during the past 2 decades due to its zoonotic and mutative features. This Virus is of special importance due to to the possibility of causing infection in human populations. According to it's geographical location, Iran hosts a large number of aquatic migratory birds every year, and since these birds can be considered as the host of the H5 HPAI, the country is significantly at risk of this virus. the In this study, the molecular characteristics of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the H5N8 strain were identified in Malard county of Tehran province and Meighan wetland of Arak city, Markazi province were investigated. Based on the analysis of the amino acid sequence of the HA genes, the cleavage site of the gene includes the PLREKRRKR/GLF polybasic amino acid motif, which is a characteristic of highly pathogenic influenza viruses. The HA gene of two viruses had T156A, S123P, S133A mutations associated with the increased mammalian sialic acid-binding, and the NA gene of two viruses had H253Y mutations associated with the resistance to antiviral drugs. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA genes indicated the classification of these viruses in the 2.3.4.4 b subclade. Although the A/Goose/Iran/180/2016 virus was also an H5N8 2.3.4.4 b virus, its cluster was separated from the A/Chicken/Iran/162/2016 virus. This means that the entry of these viruses in to the country happened through more than one window. Furthermore, it seems that the introduction of these H5N8 HPAI strains in Iran probably occurred through the West Asia-East African flyway by wild migratory aquatic birds.
过去 20 年来，高致病性禽流感（HPAI）H5N1 病毒因其人畜共患病和突变特征而备受关注。由于该病毒有可能感染人类，因此具有特殊意义。根据其地理位置，伊朗每年都有大量水禽栖息，而这些鸟类可能被视为 H5 HPAI 的宿主，因此该国面临着这种病毒的巨大风险。在这项研究中，对德黑兰省马尔勒德县和马赞德兰省阿拉克市米甘湿地的 H5N8 株的血凝素（HA）和神经氨酸酶（NA）基因的分子特征进行了鉴定。根据 HA 基因的氨基酸序列分析，该基因的裂解位点包括 PLREKRRKR/GLF 多碱性氨基酸基序，这是高致病性流感病毒的特征。两种病毒的 HA 基因具有 T156A、S123P、S133A 突变，与增加哺乳动物唾液酸结合有关，两种病毒的 NA 基因具有 H253Y 突变，与抗药性有关抗病毒药物。HA 基因的系统发育分析表明，这些病毒属于 2.3.4.4 b 亚分支。尽管 A/Goose/Iran/180/2016 病毒也是 2.3.4.4 b 病毒，但它的聚类与 A/Chicken/Iran/162/2016 病毒分离。这意味着这些病毒进入该国是通过多个途径。此外，这些 H5N8 HPAI 株在伊朗的引入似乎很可能是通过西亚-东非飞行路线，由野生迁徙水禽携带。
