Agustiningsih A, Indalao IL, Pangesti KA, Sukowati. Molecular Characterization of Influenza A/H3N2 Virus Isolated from Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims 2013 to 2014. Life (Basel). 2023 Apr 27;13(5):1100
The Hajj and Umrah are the annual mass gatherings of Muslims in Saudi Arabia and increase the transmission risk of acute respiratory infection. This study describes influenza infection among pilgrims upon arrival in Indonesia and the genetic characterization of imported influenza A/H3N2 virus. In total, 251 swab samples with influenza-like illness were tested using real-time RT-PCR for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and influenza viruses. Complete sequences of influenza A/H3N2 HA and NA genes were obtained using DNA sequencing and plotted to amino acid and antigenicity changes. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using a neighbour-joining method including the WHO vaccine strains and influenza A/H3N2 as references. The real-time RT-PCR test detected 100 (39.5%) samples positive with influenza with no positivity of MERS-CoV. Mutations in the HA gene were mainly located within the antigenic sites A, B, and D, while for the NA gene, no mutations related to oseltamivir resistance were observed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these viruses grouped together with clades 3C.2 and 3C.3; however, they were not closely grouped with the WHO-recommended vaccine (clades 3C.1). Sequences obtained from Hajj and Umrah pilgrims were also not grouped together with viruses from Middle East countries but clustered according to years of collection. This implies that the influenza A/H3N2 virus mutates continually across time.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- High pathogenicity avian influenza in pinniped conservation 3 hours ago
- Mechanism of co-transcriptional cap snatching by influenza polymerase 1 days ago
- Understanding spatiotemporal clustering of seasonal influenza in the United States 1 days ago
- [preprint]Pathogenesis of H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b in dry Jersey cows following intramammary inoculation shows within-host compartmentalization 1 days ago
- [preprint]Optimizing an avian influenza vaccine using a novel Bacterial Enzymatic Combinatorial Chemistry (BECC) TLR4 adjuvant 1 days ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


