Rapid Emergence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Subtypes from a Subtype H5N1 Hemagglutinin Variant.

de Vries E, Guo H, Dai M, Rottier PJ, van Kuppeveld FJ, de Haan CA.

Abstract

In 2014, novel highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N2, H5N5, H5N6, and H5N8 viruses caused outbreaks in Asia, Europe, and North America. The H5 genes of these viruses form a monophyletic group that evolved from a clade 2.3.4 H5N1 variant. This rapid emergence of new H5Nx combinations is unprecedented in the H5N1 evolutionary history.

KEYWORDS:

H5N1; HPAI; avian influenza; clade 2.3.4; evolution; hemagglutinin; highly pathogenic; influenza; monophyletic group; rapid emergence; reassortant; reassortment events; subtype; variant; virulent; viruses