Abstract Title
H9N2 avian influenza viruses: Evolutionary Dynamics and Risks to Poultry and Humans
Abstract
The H9N2 subtype of avian influenza viruses continues to cause substantial losses in poultry production, posing significant risks to food security and potential zoonotic infections. Ongoing genetic mutations and reassortments have led to the emergence of variants with enhanced fitness, often overcoming vaccine effectiveness and capable of infecting a broad range of avian species. These variants are also linked to more frequent zoonotic transmissions. To improve disease control, it is essential to deepen our understanding of the ecological and epidemiological drivers behind these trends and to advance vaccines and diagnostics for these evolving viruses.
Our research addresses these threats by characterising the genetic changes and evolutionary mechanisms that drive virus fitness, virulence, host range, antigenic drift, and vaccine efficacy. Our findings provide a foundation for developing more robust risk assessments of strains that threaten both poultry and human health. Additionally, our data inform the selection of candidate vaccine seed strains designed to induce broader immunity against emerging H9N2 variants. By refining predictive risk models and advancing vaccine and diagnostic tools, our work helps to mitigate disease impacts, reduce control costs, and support economic stability, animal and human health, and environmental protection.
Our research addresses these threats by characterising the genetic changes and evolutionary mechanisms that drive virus fitness, virulence, host range, antigenic drift, and vaccine efficacy. Our findings provide a foundation for developing more robust risk assessments of strains that threaten both poultry and human health. Additionally, our data inform the selection of candidate vaccine seed strains designed to induce broader immunity against emerging H9N2 variants. By refining predictive risk models and advancing vaccine and diagnostic tools, our work helps to mitigate disease impacts, reduce control costs, and support economic stability, animal and human health, and environmental protection.
Co-Author(s)
Jean-Remy Sadeyen1, Rebecca Daines 1, Pengxiang Chang, Joshua E Sealy1, Sushant Bhat1, Thusitha K Karunarathna1, Angita Shrestha1, Deimante Lukosaityte1, Mehnaz Qureshi1, Arslan Mehboob1, Altaf Hussain1, Reddy Kolli1, Oenone Bodman-Harris1 Toby Carter1, Jiayun Yang1 Thomas P. Peacock1, and Munir Iqbal1
Abstract Category
Transmission pathways, pathobiology, immune responses