TITLE:
Diversity of the RNA Polymerase in the H7N9 Influenza A Virus
AUTHORS:
Jing Li, Wenjun Liu
KEYWORDS:
Diversity, RNA Polymerase, H7N9 Influenza A Virus
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Microbiology,
Vol.5 No.9,
August
27,
2015
ABSTRACT: A novel influenza virus
of the H7N9 subtype has infected more than 350 people in China since 19
February 2013. Evolutionary analysis indicates that the virus is a reassortant
originated from H7, N9 and H9N2 avian influenza viruses, and bears some amino
acids associated with mammalian receptor binding, raising concern over the
possibility of a new influenza pandemic. Besides HA and NA, the mutation of the
polymerase is known to have an important role in virulence, host adaptation and
transmissibility in mammalians. In this article, the annotation of the
polymerase protein domain associated with molecular function has been
highlighted, suggesting the combination of RNA polymerase of H7N9 viruses is
still not stable for host adaptation. In addition, the mutation hallmarks in
polymerase gene of H7N9 are compared, providing the potential determinants of
the evolution in the H7N9 influenza A virus.