Antigenic and Genetic Diversity of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Viruses Isolated in Egypt

• DOI: 10.1637/8903-042909-reg.1
• Publication Date: 2010-03-25T10:05:02Z
• Authors: Amanda L. Balish; C. Todd Davis; Magdi D. Saad; Nasr El-Sayed; Hala Esmat; Jeffrey A. Tjaden; Kenneth C. Earhart; Lu'ay E. Ahmed; Mohamed Abd El-Halem; Abdel Hakem M. Ali; Samir A. Nassif; Elham A. El-Ebiary; M. Taha; M. Aly Mona; Abdelstattar Arafa; Eduardo O'Neill; Xu Xiyan; Nancy J. Cox; Ruben O. Donis; Alexander I. Klimov
• Keywords: H5N1 genetic structure; Antigenic shift; Highly pathogenic; Pandemic; Antigenic variation

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (H5N1) has diverged antigenically and genetically since its initial detection in Asia 1997. Viruses belonging to clade 2.2 particular have been reported numerous countries with the majority occurring Egypt. Previous reports identified antigenic similarities between viruses 2.2. However, poultry human isolated northern Egypt during 2007 2008 were found be distinct from other this country. Genetic analysis of hemagglutinin revealed a high degree nucleotide amino acid divergence. The changes Egyptian 2007-08 necessitated that two these strains considered as potential H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccine candidates.