Study of Molecular Genetic Characteristics of Influenza A(H1N1) Viruses Identified During Monitoring in Kazakhstan (2023-2026).

Authors

Nailya Klivleyeva, Tatyana Glebova, Assem Baimukhametova, Kobey Karamendin, Nurbol Saktaganov, Nuray Ongarbayeva, Mereke Kalkozhayeva, Indira Ibragimova, Aknur Mutaliyeva, Altynay Gabiden, Richard Webby

Published in

Viruses. Volume 18. Issue 10. Oct 01, 2026. Epub Oct 01, 2026.

Abstract

Seasonal influenza threatens global public health through rapid mutations. This study evaluated the prevalence and molecular-genetic characteristics of seasonal influenza viruses circulating in Kazakhstan during the 2023-2026 epidemic seasons.
Nasopharyngeal swabs (n = 1756) and serum samples (n = 718) were screened using RT-qPCR, HI, and ELISA assays. Selected A(H1N1)pdm09 isolates underwent full-length HA and NA gene next-generation sequencing, followed by phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses.
Influenza A(H3N2) strains dominated in Kazakhstan during the 2023-2024 and 2025-2026 seasons. Conversely, the 2024-2025 season showed a shifting landscape, characterized by co-circulation of influenza B and A(H1N1)pdm09 strains belonging to genetic clade 6B.1A.5a.2a (subclades C.1.9 and C.1.9.3). Mutational mapping revealed ongoing in situ microevolution adjacent to the receptor-binding site (HA-R222K). Genomic screening of the NA gene identified critical I223R and S247N mutations traditionally linked to resistance. In silico profiling predicted that while the majority maintained baseline sensitivity, the solitary A/Shymkent/NRL-1999/2024 isolate harboring the I223R substitution exhibited a multidrug-resistant genotype to oseltamivir, peramivir, and zanamivir.
These findings demonstrate dynamic inter-seasonal etiological shifts and the predicted emergence of an independent resistant lineage (NA-I223R). This underscores the necessity for continuous, expanded genomic surveillance of respiratory pathogens across Kazakhstan.

PMID:
42944007
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 27 Oct 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.