Identification of molecular markers associated with alteration of receptor-binding specificity in a novel genotype of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses detected in Cambodia in 2013.

Rith S1, Davis CT2, Duong V1, Sar B3, Horm SV1, Chin S4, Ly S5, Laurent D6, Richner B6, Oboho I7, Jang Y2, Davis W2, Thor S2, Balish A2, Iuliano AD2, Sorn S8,Holl D8, Sok T5, Seng H5, Tarantola A1, Tsuyuoka R9, Parry A9, Chea N9, Allal L10, Kitsutani P3, Warren D3, Prouty M11, Horwood P1, Widdowson MA2,Lindstrom S2, Villanueva J2, Donis R2, Cox N2, Buchy P1.

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Abstract

Human infections with influenza A(H5N1) virus in Cambodia increased sharply during 2013. Molecular characterization of viruses detected in clinical specimens from human cases revealed the presence of mutations associated with alteration of receptor-binding specificity (K189R, Q222L) and respiratory droplet transmission in ferrets (N220K with Q222L). Discovery of quasispecies at position 222 (Q/L), in addition to absence of the mutations in poultry/environmental samples, suggested the mutations occurred during human infection and did not transmit further.