Report on influenza viruses received and tested by the Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza during 2020–2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2022.46.63Keywords:
influenza, vaccines, GISRS, surveillance, laboratory, annual report, WHOAbstract
As part of its role in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne received a total of 2,393 human influenza positive samples between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 (2020: n = 2,021 samples; 2021: n = 372 samples). Viruses were analysed for their antigenic, genetic and antiviral susceptibility properties. Selected viruses were propagated in qualified cells or embryonated hen’s eggs for potential use in seasonal influenza virus vaccines.
During 2020–2021, influenza A viruses (A(H1N1)pdm09 in 2020 and A(H3N2) in 2021) predominated over influenza B viruses. In 2020, the majority of A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses analysed at the Centre were found to be antigenically similar to the respective WHO recommended vaccine strains for the southern hemisphere in 2020. In 2021, the majority of A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses were found to be antigenically distinct relative to the WHO recommended vaccine strains for the southern hemisphere in 2021. Of the influenza B viruses analysed at the Centre, 46.7% were found to be antigenically distinct to the respective WHO recommended vaccine strains.
Of 1,538 samples tested for susceptibility to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir (in 2020, n = 1,374; in 2021, n = 164), two A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses showed highly reduced inhibition against oseltamivir, and one A(H1N1)pdm09 virus showed highly reduced inhibition against zanamivir. All of these samples were received in 2020.
Downloads
References
Hay AJ, McCauley JW. The WHO global influenza surveillance and response system (GISRS)—a future perspective. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2018;12(5):551–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/irv.12565.
Monto AS. Reflections on the global influenza surveillance and response system (GISRS) at 65 years: an expanding framework for influenza detection, prevention and control. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2018;12(1):10–2. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/irv.12511.
Sullivan SG, Carlson S, Cheng AC, Chilver MB, Dwyer DE, Irwin M et al. Where has all the influenza gone? The impact of COVID-19 on the circulation of influenza and other respiratory viruses, Australia, March to September 2020. Euro Surveill. 2020;25(47):2001847. doi: https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.47.2001847.
Australian Government Department of Health. Australian Influenza Surveillance Report No. 16, 2021. Reporting fortnight: 25 October to 07 November 2021. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health; November 2021. Available from: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/018A35D7E15F04C0CA25878D0078D70B/$File/flu-16-2021.pdf.
Australian Government Department of Health. Australian Influenza Surveillance Report No. 17, 2020. Reporting fortnight: 16 to 29 November 2020. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health; 4 December 2020. Available from: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/9C53D5FF0B103751CA25862600034B44/$File/flu-17-2020.pdf.
Oh DY, Barr IG, Mosse JA, Laurie KL. MDCK-SIAT1 cells show improved isolation rates for recent human influenza viruses compared to conventional MDCK cells. J Clin Microbiol. 2008;46(7):2189–94. doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00398-08.
Hobson D, Curry RL, Beare AS, Ward-Gardner A. The role of serum haemagglutination-inhibiting antibody in protection against challenge infection with influenza A2 and B viruses. J Hyg (Lond). 1972;70(4):767–77. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022172400022610.
Lin YP, Gregory V, Collins P, Kloess J, Wharton S, Cattle N et al. Neuraminidase receptor binding variants of human influenza A(H3N2) viruses resulting from substitution of aspartic acid 151 in the catalytic site: a role in virus attachment? J Virol. 2010;84(13):6769–81. doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00458-10.
Deng YM, Spirason N, Iannello P, Jelley L, Lau H, Barr IG. A simplified Sanger sequencing method for full genome sequencing of multiple subtypes of human influenza A viruses. J Clin Virol. 2015;68:43–8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2015.04.019.
Zhou B, Donnelly ME, Scholes DT, St George K, Hatta M, Kawaoka Y et al. Single-reaction genomic amplification accelerates sequencing and vaccine production for classical and swine origin human influenza A viruses. J Virol. 2009;83(19):10309–13. doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.01109-09.
Zhou B, Deng YM, Barnes JR, Sessions OM, Chou TW, Wilson M et al. Multiplex reverse transcription-PCR for simultaneous surveillance of influenza A and B viruses. J Clin Microbiol. 2017;55(12):3492–501. doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00957-17.
Shepard SS, Meno S, Bahl J, Wilson MM, Barnes J, Neuhaus E. Viral deep sequencing needs an adaptive approach: IRMA, the iterative refinement meta-assembler. BMC Genomics. 2016;17(1):708. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-016-3030-6.
Hurt AC, Besselaar TG, Daniels RS, Ermetal B, Fry A, Gubareva L et al. Global update on the susceptibility of human influenza viruses to neuraminidase inhibitors, 2014–2015. Antiviral Res. 2016;132:178–85. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.06.001.
World Health Organization (WHO) Global Influenza Programme. Laboratory methodologies for testing the antiviral susceptibility of influenza viruses: Neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI). [Webpage.] Geneva: WHO; 2022. Available from: https://www.who.int/teams/global-influenza-programme/laboratory-network/quality-assurance/antiviral-susceptibility-influenza/neuraminidase-inhibitor.
Deng YM, Caldwell N, Barr IG. Rapid detection and subtyping of human influenza A viruses and reassortants by pyrosequencing. PLoS One. 2011;6(8):e23400. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0023400.
Gerdil C. The annual production cycle for influenza vaccine. Vaccine. 2003;21(16):1776–9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0264-410x(03)00071-9.
Stöhr K, Bucher D, Colgate T, Wood J. Influenza virus surveillance, vaccine strain selection, and manufacture. Methods Mol Biol. 2012;865:147–62. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-621-0_9.
Weir JP, Gruber MF. An overview of the regulation of influenza vaccines in the United States. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2016;10(5):354–60. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/irv.12383.
WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network. Manual for the laboratory diagnosis and virological surveillance of influenza. Geneva: WHO; I January 2011. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/manual-for-the-laboratory-diagnosis-and-virological-surveillance-of-influenza.
Roth B, Mohr H, Enders M, Garten W, Gregersen JP. Isolation of influenza viruses in MDCK 33016PF cells and clearance of contaminating respiratory viruses. Vaccine. 2012;30(3):517–22. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.11.063.
Leung VK, Deng YM, Kaye M, Buettner I, Lau H, Leang SK et al. Annual report on influenza viruses received and tested by the Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in 2016. Commun Dis Intell (2018). 2019;43. doi: http://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2019.43.3.
Sullivan SG, Chow MK, Barr IG, Kelso A. Influenza viruses received and tested by the Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza annual report, 2014. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2015;39(4):E602–11.
Leung VK, Spirason N, Lau H, Buettner I, Leang SK, Chow MK. Influenza viruses received and tested by the Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza annual report, 2015. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2017;41(2):E150–60.
Roe M, Kaye M, Iannello P, Lau H, Buettner I, Tolosa MX et al. Report on influenza viruses received and tested by the Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in 2017. Commun Dis Intell (2018). 2019;43. doi: https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2019.43.25.
Price OH, Spirason N, Rynehart C, Brown SK, Todd A, Peck H et al. Report on influenza viruses received and tested by the Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in 2018. Commun Dis Intell (2018). 2020;44. doi: https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2020.44.16.
Peck H, Moselen J, Brown SK, Triantafilou M, Lau H, Grau M et al. Report on influenza viruses received and tested by the Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in 2019. Commun Dis Intell (2018). 2021;45. doi: https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2021.45.43.
Little K, Leang SK, Butler J, Baas C, Harrower B, Mosse J et al. Zanamivir-resistant influenza viruses with Q136K or Q136R neuraminidase residue mutations can arise during MDCK cell culture creating challenges for antiviral susceptibility monitoring. Euro Surveill. 2015;20(45). doi: https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2015.20.45.30060.
WHO. Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2021 southern hemisphere influenza season. Geneva: WHO; 25 September2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/recommended-composition-of-influenza-virus-vaccines-for-use-in-the-2021-southern-hemisphere-influenza-season.
WHO. Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2022 southern hemisphere influenza season. Geneva: WHO; 24 September2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/recommended-composition-of-influenza-virus-vaccines-for-use-in-the-2022-southern-hemisphere-influenza-season.
Bowman AS, Nelson SW, Page SL, Nolting JM, Killian ML, Sreevatsan S et al. Swine-to-human transmission of influenza A(H3N2) virus at agricultural fairs, Ohio, USA, 2012. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014;20(9):1472–80. doi: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2009.131082.
Deng YM, Wong FYK, Spirason N, Kaye M, Beazley R, Grau MLL et al. Locally acquired human infection with swine-origin influenza A(H3N2) variant virus, Australia, 2018. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020;26(1):143–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2601.191144.
Gavin K, Owen R, Barr IG. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2010. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2017;41(4):E348–68.
Pennington K, Owen R, Mun J. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2009. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2017;41(4):E383–454.
Halliday L, Roberts L, Hampson A. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 1998. Commun Dis Intell. 1999;23(7):185–92.
Thomson J, Lin M, Hampson A. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 1999. Commun Dis Intell. 2000;24(6):145–52.
Roche P, Spencer J, Merianos A, Hampson A. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2000. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2001;25(3):107–12.
Roche P, Spencer J, Hampson A. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2001. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2002;26(2):204–13.
Yohannes K, Roche P, Spencer J, Hampson A. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2002. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2003;27(2):162–72.
Yohannes K, Roche P, Hampson A, Miller M, Spencer J. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2003. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2004;28(2):160–8.
Li J, Hampson A, Roche PW, Yohannes K, Spencer JD. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2004. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2005;29(2):125–36.
Firestone SM, Barr IG, Roche PW, Walker JC. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2005. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2006;30(2):189–200.
O’Brien K, Barr IG. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2006. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2007;31(2):167–79.
Owen R, Barr IG, Pengilley A, Liu C, Paterson B, Kaczmarek M et al. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2007. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2008;32(2):208–26.
Kaczmarek M, Owen R, Barr IG. Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2008. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2010;34(1):8–22.
Curran M, Hampson A. National influenza surveillance 1997. Commun Dis Intell. 1998;22(5):69–74.
WHO Global Influenza Programme. Influenza Update N° 383: 21 December 2020, based on data up to 06 December 2020. Geneva: WHO; 21 December 2020. Available from: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/influenza/influenza-updates/2020/2020_12_21_surveillance_update_383.pdf.
WHO. Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2017 southern hemisphere influenza season. Geneva: WHO; 29 September2016. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/recommended-composition-of-influenza-virus-vaccines-for-use-in-the-2017-southern-hemisphere-influenza-season.
Karlsson EA, Mook PAN, Vandermaele K, Fitzner J, Hammond A, Cozza V et al. Review of global influenza circulation, late 2019 to 2020, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on influenza circulation. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2021;25:241–64. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1352850/retrieve.
WHO. Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2020 southern hemisphere influenza season. Geneva: WHO; 27 September 2019. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/recommended-composition-of-influenza-virus-vaccines-for-use-in-the-2020-southern-hemisphere-influenza-season.
Thompson WW, Shay DK, Weintraub E, Brammer L, Bridges CB, Cox NJ et al. Influenza-associated hospitalizations in the United States. JAMA. 2004;292(11):1333–40. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.292.11.1333.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. 3303.0 Causes of Death, Australia, 2020. Table 1.1. Underlying cause of death, All causes, Australia, 2020. [Data download.] Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics; 29 September 2021. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/latest-release#data-download.
Koutsakos M, Wheatley AK, Laurie K, Kent SJ, Rockman S. Influenza lineage extinction during the COVID-19 pandemic? Nat Rev Microbiol. 2021;19(12):741–2. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-021-00642-4.
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Communicable Diseases Intelligence
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
