School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Influenza; Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Emerg Microbes Infect. 2023 Dec;12(1):2151380. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2151380.
H6 avian influenza virus (AIV) is one of the most prevalent AIV subtypes in birds globally. To investigate the current situation and characteristics of H6 AIVs circulating in China, we analysed the epidemiology, genetic evolution and pathogenic features of this subtype. During 2000-2021, H6 subtype AIVs spread widely through Southern China and presented high host diversity. On analysing 171 H6 viruses isolated during 2009-2021, dynamic reassortments were observed among H6 and other co-circulating AIV subtypes, and these generated a total of 16 different genotypes. A few H6N6 strains possessed L226 and S228 mutations of hemagglutinin (H3 numbering), which may enhance the affinity of H6 viruses to human receptors. H6N6 viruses also exhibited divergent pathogenicity and growth profiles and . Some of the H6N6 viruses could infect mice without mammalian adaptation, and even caused death in this species. Therefore, our study demonstrated that the H6 AIVs posed a potential threat to human health and highlighted the urgent need for continued surveillance and evaluation of the H6 influenza viruses circulating in the field.
H6 禽流感病毒（AIV）是全球鸟类中最常见的 AIV 亚型之一。为了调查 H6 AIV 在我国的流行情况和特征，我们分析了该亚型的流行病学、遗传进化和致病特征。2000-2021 年间，H6 亚型 AIV 在我国南方地区广泛传播，宿主多样性较高。对 2009-2021 年间分离的 171 株 H6 病毒进行分析，发现 H6 与其他同时流行的 AIV 亚型之间存在动态重配，共产生了 16 种不同的基因型。少数 H6N6 株具有血凝素（以 H3 编号）的 L226 和 S228 突变，这可能增强了 H6 病毒与人受体的亲和力。H6N6 病毒的致病性和生长特性也存在差异。一些 H6N6 病毒无需哺乳动物适应性即可感染小鼠，甚至导致该物种死亡。因此，本研究表明 H6 AIV 对人类健康构成潜在威胁，并强调了持续监测和评估该病毒在野外传播的必要性。
