Incidence of Matrix Genes Mutations Affecting PCR Tests Among Influenza H3N2 Clades Circulating During the 2014/15 Season

Influenza circulating during the 2014/15 season were associated with significant drift and the emergence of new H3N2 subgroups. It was also known that mutations were accumulating in the WHO recommended amplification region of the M1 gene, affecting the performance of many commercial PCR assays. However, the prevalence of M1 target mutations was unknown. To investigate this, isolates from the GISAID database from Australia (n=100), Europe (n=473), and the USA (n=1175) were analyzed. The predominate clade was 3C.2a (75%), with a higher representation among USA isolates (81%).
Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease - Category: Microbiology Authors: Source Type: research