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H1N1 variant suspected in Indian influenza outbreak
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An outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) in India with more than 8,000 reported cases and 800 deaths is suspected to be a drifted strain from the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus, according to a recent study.
“Although there are limited Indian-origin influenza sequences available in the public database to make any causal inference on the perceived increased fatalities in India, examination of the 2014 Indian H1N1 sequences shows traits with potential cause for concern,” Ram Sasisekharan, PhD, the Alfred H. Caspary Professor of Biological Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and colleagues wrote.
Ram Sasisekharan
To determine how to respond to this outbreak, Sasisekharan and colleagues, assessed genetic sequence information of the influenza virus protein hemagglutinin from the only two influenza strains that had been deposited into the public database, and they compared them with the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus.
The investigators observed that the recent Indian strains — influenza A/India/6427/2014 — exhibited novel mutations in the hemagglutinin protein, often linked to enhanced virulence. In particular, the researchers noted key mutations in amino acid positions, D225N and T200A, which have been linked with increased disease severity and more infectious viruses.
Given the high population density in India, as well as ease of person-to-person transmission and lack of effective treatment options, a drifted influenza strain has the potential to quickly become self-sustaining and eventually achieve dominance over known strains currently circulating in the region.
The researchers emphasized the importance of genetic and phenotypic analysis of the available virus strains, as well as dissemination of the data to ensure widespread access to real-time information. Adequate response to influenza epidemic outbreaks are dependent on the availability of outbreak documentation with limited delays.
“There is a real need for aggressive surveillance to ensure that the anxiety and hysteria are brought down and people are able to focus on what they really need to worry about,” Sasisekharan said in a press release. “We need to understand the pathology and the severity, rather than simply relying on anecdotal information. The goal is to get a clearer picture of the strains that are circulating and therefore anticipate the right kind of a vaccine strategy for 2016.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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