Molecular evolution of human influenza A/H3N2 virus in Asia and Europe from 2001 to 2003

Abstract

Hemagglutinin sequences of 146 human influenza A/H3N2 strains identified in respiratory specimens from Asia and Europe during the 2001-2003 influenza seasons were analyzed by DNA sequencing. Our results suggest that four amino acid substitutions, L25I, H75Q, H155T, and Q156H, led to the antigenic conversion of the previously predominant A/Panama/2007/99-like strains to the more recent A/Fujian/411/2002-like strains. Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.