Characterization of the influenza A virus by the molecular method and sequencing

• Grant number: 24/09139-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Jansen de Araujo
• Grantee: Theo Kraiser
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/03041-1 - TRACKING OF AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS IN MIGRATORY BIRDS BY GEOLOCATORS AND POTENTIAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF VIRAL SPREAD IN BRAZIL, AP.R

Abstract

The influenza A virus has caused flu epidemics and pandemics over time, leading to numerous infections and deaths. In just over a century, five pandemic events occurred, the worst of which, in 1918 (Spanish Flu), led to more than 50 million deaths. Furthermore, this pathogen causes seasonal epidemics that cause 3 to 5 million severe cases and approximately 500,000 deaths annually worldwide. This causes a great burden on public health and is mainly due to the high mutability characteristic of the virus.So-called gradual and abrupt antigenic variations lead to the constant emergence of new variants that are antigenically different enough to evade immune responses generated by previous infections or vaccines. Without these antibodies, individuals are vulnerable and therefore subject to severe infections that can lead to death.Monitoring circulating variants is therefore crucial not only for the early detection of potentially pandemic variants, but also for the prevention of new cases, especially through the production of vaccines suited to the new antigenicity of the variants. This monitoring must be constantly carried out in various locations worldwide, including in Brazil and in the city of São Paulo.This task can be done using molecular biology techniques to detect the virus in samples collected at different points, followed by sequencing the genetic material for genotyping the samples. The Real Time RT-PCR technique is fast and has high sensitivity for detecting the virus. Sanger sequencing allows the detection of nucleotides present in the extracted genetic material to assess the subtypes of the virus detected in the samples.Therefore, the purpose of this research is to monitor circulating variants of the influenza A virus using the Real Time RT-PCR technique for detection in samples collected from different hospitals in the city of São Paulo, followed by sequencing of genetic material extracted from samples in which the virus was detected to determine the variants circulating in the municipality.