Clinical Microbiology: Open Access

Genetic characterization of influenza A/H3N2 viruses in Georgia during 2013-2014 influenza season

3^rd International Conference on Clinical Microbiology & Microbial Genomics

September 24-26, 2014 Valencia Convention Centre, Spain

A Machablishvili, T Tevdoradze, M Zakalashvili, M Kekelidze and P Imnadze

Posters: Clin Microbial

Abstract:

Influenza represents one of the main causes of acute respiratory illness in humans worldwide. Genetic study of influenza viruses play important role to determine evolution of influenza viruses and selection of candidate strains for next season vaccine composition. The objective of this study was molecular characterization of influenza A/H3N2 viruses detected in Samegrelo region of Georgia during 2013-2014 influenza season and comparison to ones circulating globally. Sanger sequencing was used for genetic characterization of HA and NA genes of influenza H3N2 viruses. DNA sequencing raw data were processed and assembled into HA and NA full length sequences using Sequencher 5.0 software. From previously defined seven genetic groups of the HA gene of H3N2 viruses, Georgian HA gens fall into subgroup 3C that further divides into subdivisions 3C1, 3C2 and 3C3. The 2014-2015 season vaccine virus A/Texas/50/2012 belongs to subgroup 3C1 while Georgian viruses fall into subdivisions 3C2 and 3C3. Studied HA gens carried N145S, V186G and D487N amino acid substitutions characterized for 3C2 subgroup. One HA had amino acid substitutions N122D, L157S and V347M in addition to T128A and R142G mutations common to 3C3 subgroup. NA gens of virus? revealed same pattern of clustering as observed in HA. All Georgian NA gens have lost a potential glycosylation site in NA due to N402D substitution widely seen worldwide in majority of influenza A/H3N2 viruses. Influenza A/H3N2 viruses circulating in Samegrelo region of Georgia in 2013-2014 influenza season belonged to most commonly observed subgroups 3C2 and 3C3 in Europe.

Biography :

A Machablishvili graduated Tbilisi State Medical University, faculty of Preventive Medicine in 2000. Since 2001, she has been working as a virologist at National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Georgia. From 2006 up to date, she has been leading National Influenza Center of Georgia. She is involved in research projects not only related to influenza but other viral pathogens as well.