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Rare recovery of reassortants between contemporary clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses and human influenza A viruses in vitro

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Influenza A virus (IAV) pandemics can arise when animal-derived and human-adapted IAVs exchange genome segments; however, whether contemporary clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses can generate viable reassortants with human IAVs is unclear. Here, we tested the reassortment potential of two clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses with human-adapted H1N1 and H3N2 IAVs using a biosafe reassortment system. Across multiple coinfection conditions, we genotyped 2,698 plaque-purified viral clones and recovered 20 reassortants (0.74%). Polymerase assays identified human IAV subunits, particularly H1N1 PA or H3N2 PB2, that increased H5N1 polymerase activity. Thus, contemporary clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses can reassort with human IAVs, but factors beyond polymerase compatibility may limit their recovery.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2631654123

Authors: Jakob Ankerhold, Susanne Kessler, Philipp P. Petric, Celia Jakob, Martin Beer, Martin Schwemmle, Peter Reuther, Kevin Ciminski

Institutions: University of Freiburg, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Copenhagen, The Pirbright Institute, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut

Language: English

Topic: Influenza Virus Research Studies

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W7225654429

FWCI:

Cites: 9

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