Antigenic and Genetic Characteristics of Swine-Origin 2009 A(H1N1) Influenza Viruses Circulating in Humans

TLDR

The 2009 swine‑origin H1N1 influenza virus emerged in humans, prompting investigation into its genetic characteristics. The study aims to evaluate whether the H1 component of the seasonal flu vaccine can serve as a booster and to emphasize ongoing surveillance of pig populations for new influenza reassortants. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 2009 H1N1 virus is a triple reassortant with HA, NP, and NS genes transferred from birds to pigs in 1918, PB1 from birds to humans to pigs, PA and PB2 from birds to pigs in 1998, and NA and M from birds to pigs in 1979, providing insights into drug susceptibility, virulence, and host specificity.

Abstract

Generation of Swine Flu As the newly emerged influenza virus starts its journey to infect the world's human population, the genetic secrets of the 2009 outbreak of swine influenza A(H1N1) are being revealed. In extensive phylogenetic analyses, Garten et al. (p. 197 , published online 22 May) confirm that of the eight elements of the virus, the basic components encoded by the hemagglutinin, nucleoprotein, and nonstructural genes originated in birds and transferred to pigs in 1918. Subsequently, these formed a triple reassortant with the RNA polymerase PB1 that transferred from birds in 1968 to humans and then to pigs in 1998, coupled with RNA polymerases PA and PB2 that transferred from birds to pigs in 1998. The neuraminidase and matrix protein genes that complete the virus came from birds and entered pigs in 1979. The analysis offers insights into drug susceptibility and virulence, as well as raising the possibility of hitherto unknown factors determining host specificity. A significant question is, what is the potential for the H1 component of the current seasonal flu vaccine to act as a booster? Apart from the need for ongoing sequencing to monitor for the emergence of new reassortants, future pig populations need to be closely monitored for emerging influenza viruses.