Phylogenetic analysis of hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and nucleoprotein genes of H9N2 avian influenza viruses isolated in Israel during the 2000–2005 epizootic

• Published in: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases microbiology and infectious diseases, 2009-05, Vol.32 (3), p.221-238
• Main Authors: Perk, Shimon, Golender, Natalia, Banet-Noach, Caroline, Shihmanter, Ester, Pokamunsky, Shimon, Pirak, Michael, Tendler, Yevgenii, Lipkind, Michael, Panshin, Alexander
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Amino Acid Substitution - genetics; Analyse phylogénique; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chickens - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gène de l’hémagglutinine; Hemagglutinin; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus - classification; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus - genetics; Infectious Disease; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype - genetics; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype - isolation & purification; Influenza in Birds - epidemiology; Influenza in Birds - virology; Influenza virus; Israel - epidemiology; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Neuraminidase; Neuraminidase - classification; Neuraminidase - genetics; Neuraminidase et nucléoprotéine; Nucleoprotein; Phylogenetic analysis; Phylogeny; RNA-Binding Proteins - classification; RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; Turkeys - virology; Viral Core Proteins - classification; Viral Core Proteins - genetics; Virology; Virus de la grippe aviaire
• ISSN: 0147-9571; 1878-1667
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2007.06.008

Abstract The first two isolates of H9N2 influenza virus in Israel were collected from turkey and chicken hosts in May 2000. The actual epizootic of the H9N2 virus started in December 2001, after a 1.5-year period of silence, and still continues. A total of more than 500 isolations from turkeys and chickens were registered during the outbreaks. The present study has revealed some genetic peculiarities among the local isolates, namely: all the isolates belong to the same G1-like phylogenetic lineage, within which they form a single group, which, in turn, is divided into three subgroups in the cases of the HA and NP genes, and two subgroups in the case of the NA gene. The results present a basis for suggesting the existence of two parallel evolutionary trends originating from the same local “prototype” isolate.