Genetic variation in the hemagglutinin of A(H1N1) 09pdm and A(H3N2) influenza viruses in the Beijing area from 2009 to 2014.

Background: A(H1N1) 09pdm and A(H3N2) influenza viruses are the main cause of occasional influenza pandemics and seasonal influenza epidemics around the world. Unfortunately, the understanding of long-term genetic variation in these viruses remains limited.

Methods: In this study, hemagglutinin genes from 90 A(H1N1) 09pdm and 48 A(H3N2) influenza viruses in the Beijing area from 2009 to 2014 were sequenced and analyzed.

Results: The hemagglutinin genes in A(H1N1) 09pdm and A(H3N2) shared nucleotide similarity that ranged from 93.06% - 99.88% and 98.68% - 99.29%, respectively, compared with current vaccine strains. 10 and 7 amino acid mutations in antigenic sites were identified in these two strains, respectively. In addition, a new site 177 glycosylation, which did not exist in previous circulating strains, was identified in 3 A(H1N1) 09pdm isolates.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated the continued evolution of seasonal influenza viruses in the Beijing area, indicating that an update of the vaccine is needed, especially for A(H1N1) 09pdm influenza virus.