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Molecular Characterization of the Neuraminidase Gene of Influenza B Virus in Northern Iran Publisher



Kaveh K1 ; Tazarghi A1 ; Hosseini P2 ; Fotouhi F3 ; Ajorloo M4 ; Rabiei Roodsari M5 ; Razavi Nikoo H1, 6
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Influenza Research Lab, Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute of Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
  6. 6. Infectious Disease Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

Source: VirusDisease Published:2023


Abstract

Neuraminidase inhibitors are the only FDA-approved class of antiviral agents against influenza B viruses. Resistance to these drugs has been reported from different parts of the world; however, there seems to be not enough information about this issue in Iran. We aimed to study the genetic evolution of these viruses as well as the presence of possible mutations concerning drug resistance in northern Iran. RNA was extracted from naso- and oropharyngeal swabs and amplified by one-step RT-PCR for detection and sequencing of the neuraminidase gene. All the data were edited and assembled utilizing BioEdit DNASequence Alignment Editor Software, and the phylogenetic tree was constructed via MEGA software version 10. Finally, resistance-associated mutations and B-cell epitopes substitutions were assessed by comparing our sequences with the counterparts in the reference strains. Comparing our sequences with reference strains revealed that the analyzed isolates of influenza B pertained to the B-Yamagata lineage, had a few B-cell epitopes alterations, and contained no particular mutations concerning resistance against neuraminidase inhibitors, such as oseltamivir. Our findings suggest that all the strains circulating in northern Iran and hopefully other parts of the country can be considered sensitive to this class of drugs. Although it is promising, we strongly recommend additional investigations to evaluate the impact of such drug-resistant mutations in other regions, which in turn will assist the public health agencies in taking immediate and effective therapeutic measures into account when needed. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Indian Virological Society.