An epidemiologic surveillance study based on wastewater and respiratory specimens reveals influenza a virus prevalence and mutations in Taiyuan, China during 2023–2024

Abstract Background Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Influenza A virus (IAV) is one of the most important pathogens causing influenza and often causes global pandemics due to its tendency to mutate. We aim to use epidemiology based on wastewater and respiratory specimens to und...

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Main Authors: Lifeng Zhao, Jihong Xu, Jiane Guo, Ping Zhang, Xiaofang Guo, Zhihong Zuo, Li Gao, Zhao Jia, Puna Xue, Jitao Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10169-7
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author Lifeng Zhao
Jihong Xu
Jiane Guo
Ping Zhang
Xiaofang Guo
Zhihong Zuo
Li Gao
Zhao Jia
Puna Xue
Jitao Wang
author_facet Lifeng Zhao
Jihong Xu
Jiane Guo
Ping Zhang
Xiaofang Guo
Zhihong Zuo
Li Gao
Zhao Jia
Puna Xue
Jitao Wang
author_sort Lifeng Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Influenza A virus (IAV) is one of the most important pathogens causing influenza and often causes global pandemics due to its tendency to mutate. We aim to use epidemiology based on wastewater and respiratory specimens to understand the occurrence of influenza A virus infections in Taiyuan City. Methods A retrospective epidemiology surveillance was carried out at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (FHSMU) and five wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) in Taiyuan city from 2023 to 2024. Reverse transcription real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect influenza A viruses in wastewater and respiratory specimens. High-throughput whole genome sequencing was performed on 17 strains obtained in this study, and subsequent analyses included characterization, phylogenetic construction, amino acid mutation analysis, and antigenic structural variability assessment. Results 520 wastewater samples and 1,203 throat swab samples were collected. We detected RNA concentration from pH1N1 and H3N2 viruses in wastewater and got 17 genome sequences (5 of pH1N1 and 12 of H3N2) in respiratory specimens. Whole-genome sequencing showed co-prevalence of pH1N1 viruses in the branches of 6B.1 A.5a.2a.1 and H3N2 viruses in the branches of 3 C.2a1b.2a.2a.3a.a in Taiyuan from 2023 to 2024. Moreover, a HA mutation (N138D), predicted to be of high phenotypic consequence, was found in 8 Taiyuan H3N2 sequences. Conclusion This study highlights the predominant presence of pH1N1 and H3N2 strains in Taiyuan. The analysis also identified amino acid site variations in the HA antigenic epitopes in H3N2 strains, which may contribute to immune escape.
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spelling doaj-art-95e1480b72e14b2685a83a40f5f2da592024-11-17T12:11:48ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342024-11-0124111210.1186/s12879-024-10169-7An epidemiologic surveillance study based on wastewater and respiratory specimens reveals influenza a virus prevalence and mutations in Taiyuan, China during 2023–2024Lifeng Zhao0Jihong Xu1Jiane Guo2Ping Zhang3Xiaofang Guo4Zhihong Zuo5Li Gao6Zhao Jia7Puna Xue8Jitao Wang9Department of Microbiology Test, Taiyuan Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Microbiology Test, Taiyuan Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Microbiology Test, Taiyuan Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Microbiology Test, Taiyuan Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Microbiology Test, Taiyuan Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Microbiology Test, Taiyuan Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Microbiology Test, Taiyuan Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Microbiology Test, Taiyuan Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Microbiology Test, Taiyuan Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Microbiology Test, Taiyuan Center for Disease Control and PreventionAbstract Background Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Influenza A virus (IAV) is one of the most important pathogens causing influenza and often causes global pandemics due to its tendency to mutate. We aim to use epidemiology based on wastewater and respiratory specimens to understand the occurrence of influenza A virus infections in Taiyuan City. Methods A retrospective epidemiology surveillance was carried out at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (FHSMU) and five wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) in Taiyuan city from 2023 to 2024. Reverse transcription real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect influenza A viruses in wastewater and respiratory specimens. High-throughput whole genome sequencing was performed on 17 strains obtained in this study, and subsequent analyses included characterization, phylogenetic construction, amino acid mutation analysis, and antigenic structural variability assessment. Results 520 wastewater samples and 1,203 throat swab samples were collected. We detected RNA concentration from pH1N1 and H3N2 viruses in wastewater and got 17 genome sequences (5 of pH1N1 and 12 of H3N2) in respiratory specimens. Whole-genome sequencing showed co-prevalence of pH1N1 viruses in the branches of 6B.1 A.5a.2a.1 and H3N2 viruses in the branches of 3 C.2a1b.2a.2a.3a.a in Taiyuan from 2023 to 2024. Moreover, a HA mutation (N138D), predicted to be of high phenotypic consequence, was found in 8 Taiyuan H3N2 sequences. Conclusion This study highlights the predominant presence of pH1N1 and H3N2 strains in Taiyuan. The analysis also identified amino acid site variations in the HA antigenic epitopes in H3N2 strains, which may contribute to immune escape.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10169-7Influenza a virusWastewaterWhole-genome sequencingMutationGenome characterization
spellingShingle Lifeng Zhao
Jihong Xu
Jiane Guo
Ping Zhang
Xiaofang Guo
Zhihong Zuo
Li Gao
Zhao Jia
Puna Xue
Jitao Wang
An epidemiologic surveillance study based on wastewater and respiratory specimens reveals influenza a virus prevalence and mutations in Taiyuan, China during 2023–2024
BMC Infectious Diseases
Influenza a virus
Wastewater
Whole-genome sequencing
Mutation
Genome characterization
title An epidemiologic surveillance study based on wastewater and respiratory specimens reveals influenza a virus prevalence and mutations in Taiyuan, China during 2023–2024
title_full An epidemiologic surveillance study based on wastewater and respiratory specimens reveals influenza a virus prevalence and mutations in Taiyuan, China during 2023–2024
title_fullStr An epidemiologic surveillance study based on wastewater and respiratory specimens reveals influenza a virus prevalence and mutations in Taiyuan, China during 2023–2024
title_full_unstemmed An epidemiologic surveillance study based on wastewater and respiratory specimens reveals influenza a virus prevalence and mutations in Taiyuan, China during 2023–2024
title_short An epidemiologic surveillance study based on wastewater and respiratory specimens reveals influenza a virus prevalence and mutations in Taiyuan, China during 2023–2024
title_sort epidemiologic surveillance study based on wastewater and respiratory specimens reveals influenza a virus prevalence and mutations in taiyuan china during 2023 2024
topic Influenza a virus
Wastewater
Whole-genome sequencing
Mutation
Genome characterization
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10169-7
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