Re-Emergence of Circulation of Seasonal Influenza during COVID-19 Pandemic in Russia and Receptor Specificity of New and Dominant Clade 3C.2a1b.2a.2 A(H3N2) Viruses in 2021–2022
Natalia P. Kolosova,
Tatiana N. Ilyicheva,
Vasily V. Unguryan,
Alexey V. Danilenko,
Svetlana V. Svyatchenko,
Galina S. Onhonova,
Natalia I. Goncharova,
Maksim N. Kosenko,
Andrey S. Gudymo,
Vasiliy Y. Marchenko,
Alexander N. Shvalov,
Ivan M. Susloparov,
Tatiana V. Tregubchak,
Elena V. Gavrilova,
Rinat A. Maksyutov,
Alexander B. Ryzhikov
Affiliations
Natalia P. Kolosova
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Tatiana N. Ilyicheva
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Vasily V. Unguryan
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Alexey V. Danilenko
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Svetlana V. Svyatchenko
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Galina S. Onhonova
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Natalia I. Goncharova
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Maksim N. Kosenko
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Andrey S. Gudymo
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Vasiliy Y. Marchenko
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Alexander N. Shvalov
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Ivan M. Susloparov
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Tatiana V. Tregubchak
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Elena V. Gavrilova
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Rinat A. Maksyutov
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
Alexander B. Ryzhikov
State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk 630559, Russia
The circulation of seasonal influenza in 2020–2021 around the world was drastically reduced after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of mitigation strategies. The influenza virus circulation reemerged in 2021–2022 with the global spread of the new genetic clade 3C.2a1b.2a.2 of A(H3N2) viruses. The purpose of this study was to characterize influenza viruses in the 2021–2022 season in Russia and to analyze the receptor specificity properties of the 3C.2a1b.2a.2 A(H3N2) viruses. Clinical influenza samples were collected at the local Sanitary-and-Epidemiological Centers of Rospotrebnadzor. Whole genome sequencing was performed using NGS. The receptor specificity of hemagglutinin was evaluated using molecular modeling and bio-layer interferometry. Clinical samples from 854 cases of influenza A and B were studied; A(H3N2) viruses were in the majority of the samples. All genetically studied A(H3N2) viruses belonged to the new genetic clade 3C.2a1b.2a.2. Molecular modeling analysis suggested a higher affinity of hemagglutinin of 3C.2a1b.2a.2. A(H3N2) viruses to the α2,6 human receptor. In vitro analysis using a trisaccharide 6’-Sialyl-N-acetyllactosamine receptor analog did not resolve the differences in the receptor specificity of 3C.2a1b.2a.2 clade viruses from viruses belonging to the 3C.2a1b.2a.1 clade. Further investigation of the A(H3N2) viruses is required for the evaluation of their possible adaptive advantages. Constant monitoring and characterization of influenza are critical for epidemiological analysis.
