Genetic analysis and biological characteristics of different internal gene origin H5N6 reassortment avian influenza virus in China in 2016

Genetic Characterization of a Novel Reassortant H5N6 Avian Influenza Virus Identified from a 10-Year-Old Girl

“…It is well-known that contact with live poultry or exposure to a contaminated environment is the main source of human infection with the H5 subtype HPAI virus. Unfortunately, the H5 subtype avian influenza virus has been circulating in live poultry in China (18)(19)(20), and along with chicken consumption, this will increase the risk of human infections. Moreover, several clusters of human infection with H5 subtype virus epidemics have been confirmed (21)(22)(23).…”

Antigenic Variation of Avian Influenza A(H5N6) Viruses, Guangdong Province, China, 2014–2018

“…In 2017, NP, M, and NS genes from H3-like viruses and local LPAI gene pools were first detected in circulating H5N6 viruses (Figure 2). Closely related H5N6 viruses from China with similar internal gene composition did not show any intravenous pathogenicity in ducks and lower intravenous pathogenicity in chickens ( 13 ), which could explain the widespread circulation of H5N6 viruses in Guangdong Province.…”

Avian influenza overview May – August 2018

“…In the relevant time period for this report, no cases of A(H5N6) HPAI virus were detected in wild birds in Asia ( Figure 5). Genetic characterisation Sun et al (2018) carried out genetic characterization of the internal genes of A(H5N6) viruses downloaded from the Influenza Research Database, GISAID or generated in the study and divided them into four genotypes depending on the origin of the genome segments. The receptor-binding of four isolates detected in 2016 at a live poultry market demonstrated their ability to bind to both α-2,3linked ('avian like') and α-2,6-linked ('human like') sialic acid receptors.…”