Genetic analysis of HA1 domain of influenza A/H3N2 viruses isolated in Kenya during the 2007-2013 seasons reveal significant divergence from WHO-recommended vaccine strains

Abstract

Background: Influenza viruses evolve rapidly and cause regular seasonal epidemics in humans challenging effective vaccination. The virus surface HA glycoprotein is the primary target for the host immune response. Here, we investigated the vaccine efficacy and evolution patterns of human influenza A/H3N2 viruses that circulated in Kenyan in the period before and after the 2009 A/H1N1 pandemic, targeting the HA1 domain.