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NIV detects three new variants of H1N1 virus

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  • NIV detects three new variants of H1N1 virus

    PUNE: The National Institute of Virology (NIV) here has detected three new variants of the H1N1 virus. Fortunately, all three variants have shown susceptibility to Tamiflu , the drug used in the treatment of swine flu.

    However, with the virus actively acquiring new properties, NIV scientists are apprehensive that it might develop resistance to the medicines used in treating swine flu. ?For now, there is no need to worry. But we are closely monitoring the virus for any change in its virulence ,? NIV assistant director Sarah Cherian told TOI recently.

    (read more link)

  • #2
    Re: NIV detects three new variants of H1N1 virus

    A bit more about what they acutally found. The title of the original article is a bit misleading/exaggerated. There is no evidence that they found low reactors or drift variants or anything of that nature.

    The National Institute of Virology (NIV) here has detected three new variants of the H1N1 virus. Fortunately, all three variants have shown susceptibi


    PUNE: The National Institute of Virology (NIV) here has detected three new variants of the H1N1 virus. Fortunately, all three variants have shown susceptibility to Tamiflu , the drug used in the treatment of swine flu.

    However, with the virus actively acquiring new properties, NIV scientists are apprehensive that it might develop resistance to the medicines used in treating swine flu. “For now, there is no need to worry. But we are closely monitoring the virus for any change in its virulence ,” NIV assistant director Sarah Cherian told TOI recently.

    Cherian said seven mutated variants of the virus have been found across the world so far.“As expected of the seasonal influenza virus, the H1N1 virus is also going through constant genetic variations which might lead to significant changes in its antiviral resistance,” she said.

    The variants of the H1N1 virus, representing both recovered and fatal cases from major cities – Pune,Mumbai,Delhi,Hyderabad and Bangalore — were analysed at the NIV and the complete genomes of these variants were sequenced . The results of the genetic analysis have been published in the March 2010 issue of the US journal, PLOS One.

    Woman dies of swine flu
    PUNE: A 48-year-old woman from Baramati succumbed to the H1N1 flu on Sunday, taking the death toll in Pune to 237. Sunanda Mehtre, who was diabetic, died at the Sassoon hospital here at 8 am.

    ‘No major change in Indian variants of H1N1’
    PUNE: The National Institute of Virology (NIV) here has detected three new variants of the H1N1 virus. Fortunately, all three variants have shown susceptibility to Tamiflu, the drug used in the treatment of swine flu.

    The NIV study, which compared the Indian viruses with 685 whole genomes of global viral isolates, revealed that the first Indian isolate of May 2009 belonged to a subtype (clade 5) and correlated to the time during which the dissemination of the virus was noted in Asia.

    The later isolates of the period from June to September 2009 belonged to H1N1 variants (clades 6 and 7). The clade 7 variant was seen to be the dominant one, though no spatio-temporal patterns were noted within this variant, said Cherian. Among the established pathogenic markers, no significant change was observed in the Indian variants of the H1N1 virus.

    The first influenza pandemic of the 21st century was declared with the emergence of a novel influenza A (H1N1) strain in Mexico and the US in April 2009.

    In its last H1N1 situation update released on May 14, the World Health Organisation said that more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18,036 deaths.

    The virus was first detected in India in May 2009. Since then outbreaks have been reported from many parts of the country.

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    • #3
      Re: NIV detects three new variants of H1N1 virus

      Here is the link to the study I think they are talking about, and our discussion:

      The salvage of human life ought to be placed above barter and exchange ~ Louis Harris, 1918

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: NIV detects three new variants of H1N1 virus



        Archive Number 20100525.1741
        Published Date 25-MAY-2010
        Subject PRO/AH> Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (34): Indian variants

        INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) (34): INDIAN VARIANTS
        ***********************************************
        A ProMED-mail post
        <http://www.promedmail.org>
        ProMED-mail is a program of the
        International Society for Infectious Diseases
        <http://www.isid.org>

        Date: Tue 25 May 2010
        Source: The Times of India, Pune [edited]
        <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City-Pune/NIV-detects-3-new-variants-of-H1N1-virus-/articleshow/5970862.cms?>

        The National Institute of Virology (NIV) here has detected 3 new
        variants of the H1N1 virus. Fortunately, all 3 variants have shown
        susceptibility to Tamiflu, the drug used in the treatment of swine
        flu. However, with the virus actively acquiring new properties, NIV
        scientists are apprehensive that it might develop resistance to the
        medicines used in treating swine flu. "For now, there is no need to
        worry. But we are closely monitoring the virus for any change in its
        virulence," NIV assistant director Sarah Cherian told the Times of
        India recently.

        Cherian said 7 mutated variants of the virus have been found across
        the world so far. "As expected of the seasonal influenza virus, the
        H1N1 virus is also going through constant genetic variations which
        might lead to significant changes in its antiviral resistance," she
        said.

        The variants of the H1N1 virus, representing both recovered and fatal
        cases from major cities -- Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and
        Bangalore -- were analysed at the NIV, and the complete genomes of
        these variants were sequenced. The results of the genetic analysis
        have been published in the March 2010 issue of the US journal, PLOS
        One.

        The NIV study, which compared the Indian viruses with 685 whole
        genomes of global viral isolates, revealed that the 1st Indian
        isolate of May 2009 belonged to a subtype (clade 5) and correlated to
        the time during which the dissemination of the virus was noted in
        Asia.

        The later isolates of the period from June to September 2009 belonged
        to H1N1 variants (clades 6 and 7). The clade 7 variant was seen to be
        the dominant one, though no spatio-temporal patterns were noted
        within this variant, said Cherian. Among the established pathogenic
        markers, no significant change was observed in the Indian variants of
        the H1N1 virus.

        The 1st influenza pandemic of the 21st century was declared with the
        emergence of a novel influenza A (H1N1) strain in Mexico and the US
        in April 2009. In its last H1N1 situation update released on 14 May
        2010, the World Health Organisation said that more than 214 countries
        and overseas territories or communities have reported
        laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including
        over 18 036 deaths. [The most recent WHO Weekly Update (101), dated
        24 May 2010 has been archived in ProMED-mail as "Influenza pandemic
        (H1N1) (33): WHO update 20100522.1700." - Mod.CP]

        --
        Communicated by:
        ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

        [The detection of 3 genetic variants circulating in India is an
        interesting observation. For the benefit of readers wishing more
        precise detail, the abstract of the PLoS ONE paper is posted below.

        "Title: Genetic Characterization of the Influenza A Pandemic (H1N1)
        2009 Virus Isolates from India. Reference: PLoS ONE 5(3): e9693.
        doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0009693
        <http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0009693>.
        By: Varsha A. Potdar, Mandeep S. Chadha, Santosh M. Jadhav, Jayati
        Mullick, Sarah S. Cherian, Akhilesh C. Mishra At: National Institute
        of Virology, Pune, India.

        Abstract
        Background: The influenza A pandemic H1N1 2009 (H1N1pdm) virus
        appeared in India in May 2009 and thereafter, outbreaks with
        considerable morbidity and mortality have been reported from many
        parts of the country. Continuous monitoring of the genetic makeup of
        the virus is essential to understand its evolution within the country
        in relation to global diversification and to track the mutations that
        may affect the behavior of the virus.

        Methods: H1N1pdm viruses were isolated from both recovered and fatal
        cases representing major cities and sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses
        of 6 concatenated whole genomes and the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of 7
        more isolates from May-September 2009 were performed with reference
        to 685 whole genomes of global isolates available as of 24 Nov 2009.
        Molecular characterization of all the 8 segments was carried out for
        known pathogenic markers.

        Results: The 1st isolate of May 2009 belonged to clade 5. Although
        clade 7 was the dominant H1N1pdm lineage in India, both clades 6 and
        7 were found to be co-circulating. The neuraminidase of all the
        Indian isolates possessed H275, the marker for sensitivity to the
        neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir [The H275Y mutation confers
        resistance. - Mod.CP]. Some of the mutations in HA are at or in the
        vicinity of antigenic sites and may, therefore, be of possible
        antigenic significance. Among these, a D222G mutation in the HA
        receptor binding domain was found in 2 of the 8 Indian isolates
        obtained from fatal cases.

        Conclusions: The majority of the 13 Indian isolates grouped in the
        globally most widely circulating H1N1pdm clade 7. Further,
        correlations of the mutations specific to clade 7 Indian isolates to
        viral fitness and adaptability in the country remains to be
        understood. The D222G mutation in HA from isolates of fatal cases
        needs to be studied for pathogenicity."

        The following information is relevant to these findings. In the
        ProMED- mail post archived as "Influenza pandemic (H1N1) (21):
        Norway, D222G mutation 20100305.0729," an analysis of Norwegian data
        suggested that a correlation might exist between presence of the
        D222G substitution in the HA gene and a severe clinical outcome,
        reflecting an increase in pathogenicity caused by this mutation,
        perhaps as a consequence of a change in cellular tropism rendering
        the virus more pneumotropic. Alternatively, it is possible that the
        likelihood of such mutations arising is higher in patients who fail
        to fight off the virus rapidly and have virus already colonising the
        lower respiratory tract.

        Regarding the H275Y oseltamivir resistance mutation in the NA gene,
        according to the most recent WHO update of 12 May 2010, the global
        cumulative total is 289 so far. All but one of these have the H275Y
        substitution and are assumed to remain sensitive to zanamivir. This
        mutation was not present in the Indian isolates.

        The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India at
        <http://healthmap.org/r/008o> can be used to locate the various
        cities and states mentioned in this post. - Mod.CP]

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