Projects per year
Abstract
Influenza B viruses make a considerable contribution to morbidity attributed to seasonal influenza. Currently circulating influenza B isolates are known to belong to two antigenically distinct lineages referred to as B/Victoria and B/Yamagata. Frequent exchange of genomic segments of these two lineages has been noted in the past, but the observed patterns of reassortment have not been formalized in detail. We investigate interlineage reassortments by comparing phylogenetic trees across genomic segments. Our analyses indicate that of the eight segments of influenza B viruses only segments coding for polymerase basic 1 and 2 (PB1 and PB2) and hemagglutinin (HA) proteins have maintained separate Victoria and Yamagata lineages and that currently circulating strains possess PB1, PB2, and HA segments derived entirely from one or the other lineage; other segments have repeatedly reassorted between lineages thereby reducing genetic diversity. We argue that this difference between segments is due to selection against reassortant viruses with mixed-lineage PB1, PB2, and HA segments. Given sufficient time and continued recruitment to the reassortment-isolated PB1-PB2-HA gene complex, we expect influenza B viruses to eventually undergo sympatric speciation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 162-172 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Molecular Biology and Evolution |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 15 Oct 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2015 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Evolution
- Influenza
- Phylogenetics
- Reassortment
- Speciation
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Reassortment between Influenza B Lineages and the Emergence of a Coadapted PB1-PB2-HA Gene Complex'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 4 Finished
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PREDEMICS:Preparedness,Prediction and Prevention of Emerging Zoonotic Viruses with Pandemic Potential using Multidiscipliinary Approach
Rambaut, A. (Principal Investigator)
1/11/11 → 30/04/17
Project: Research
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Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution
Matthews, K. (Principal Investigator)
1/10/11 → 31/03/17
Project: Research
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An integrated approach to understanding the evolutionary, antigenic and epidemiological dynamics fo human influenza virus
Rambaut, A. (Principal Investigator) & Leigh-Brown, A. (Co-investigator)
17/10/10 → 16/12/13
Project: Research
Activities
- 1 Membership of external research organisation
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NIH, Div Int Epidemiol & Populat Studies, Fogarty Int Ctr (External organisation)
Rambaut, A. (Member)
Sept 2009 → Aug 2015Activity: Membership types › Membership of external research organisation
Profiles
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Samantha Lycett
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies - Personal Chair of Pathogen Phylodynamics
Person: Academic: Research Active