Saim-Mamoun A, Carbonneau J, Rhéaume C, Abed Y, Bo. Viral Fitness of Baloxavir-Resistant Recombinant Influenza B/Victoria- and B/Yamagata-like Viruses Harboring the I38T PA Change, In Vitro, Ex Vivo and in Guinea Pigs. Microorganisms. 2023 Apr 22;11(5):1095
Seasonal influenza A and B viruses may cause severe infections requiring therapeutic interventions. Baloxavir, the latest antiviral drug approved against those infections, targets the endonuclease activity encoded by the polymerase acidic (PA) protein. While appearing effective at cessation of viral shedding, baloxavir demonstrated a low barrier of resistance. Herein, we aimed to assess the impact of PA-I38T substitution, a major marker of baloxavir-resistance, on the fitness of contemporary influenza B viruses. Recombinant wild-type (WT) influenza B/Phuket/2073/13 (B/Yamagata/16/88-like) and B/Washington/02/19 (B/Victoria/2/87-like) viruses and their respective PA-I38T mutants were used to evaluate replication kinetics in vitro, using A549 and Calu3 cells, and ex vivo, using nasal human airway epithelium (HAE) cells. Infectivity was also assessed in guinea pigs. In the B/Washington/02/19 background, there were no major differences between the recombinant WT virus and its I38T mutant when viral replication kinetics were evaluated in human lung cell lines and HAE as well as in nasal washes of experimentally infected guinea pigs. By contrast, the I38T mutation moderately impacted the B/Phuket/2073/13 viral fitness. In conclusion, contemporary influenza B viruses that may acquire baloxavir-resistance through the PA-I38T substitution could retain a significant level of fitness, highlighting the importance of monitoring the emergence of such variant.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Emergence of a genetically distinct cluster of influenza A(H3N2) viruses within subclade J.2.2 associated with hospitalization during the 2024-2025 season in Auvergne-Rh?ne-Alpes, France 11 hours ago
- Interaction between DEAD-box RNA helicase 10 and influenza PB1 polymerase selectively regulates influenza A virus replication 11 hours ago
- Genetic Diversity of Clade 2.3.4.4b H5Nx High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses Detected in Korea During the 2025-2026 Winter Season and Pathogenicity of H5N1 and H5N9 Viruses 12 hours ago
- Update and optimization of a multiplex RT-qPCR assay to overcome diagnostic failure in emerging influenza A(H3N2) subclades J.2 and K (Peru, 2024-2026) 12 hours ago
- Antigenic and structural analysis of the influenza hemagglutinin lateral patch 12 hours ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


