Cell-Adapted Mutations and Antigenic Diversity of Influenza B Viruses in Missouri, 2019-2020 Season

Influenza B viruses (IBVs) are causing an increasing burden of morbidity and mortality, yet the prevalence of culture-adapted mutations in human seasonal IBVs are unclear. We collected 368 clinical samples from patients with influenza-like illness in Missouri during the 2019-2020 influenza season and recovered 146 influenza isolates including 38 IBV isolates. Of MDCK-CCL34, MDCK-Siat1, and humanized MDCK (hCK), hCK showed the highest virus recovery efficiency. All Missourian IBVs belonged to the Victoria V1A.3 lineage, all of which contained a three-amino acid deletion on the HA protein and were antigenically distant from the Victoria lineage IBV vaccine strain used during that season. By comparing genomic sequences of these IBVs in 31 paired samples, eight cell-adapted nonsynonymous mutations were identified, with the majority in the RNA polymerase. Analyses of IBV clinical sample-isolate pairs from public databases further showed that cell- and egg-adapted mutations occurred more widely in viral proteins, including the receptor and antibody binding sites on HA. Our study suggests that hCK is an effective platform for IBV isolation and that culture-adapted mutations may occur during IBV isolation. As culture-adapted mutations may affect subsequent virus studies and vaccine development, the knowledge from this study may help optimize strategies for influenza surveillance, vaccine strain selection, and vaccine development.

Automated summary

The majority of IBV influenza strains in Missouri during the 2019-2020 season contained a three-amino acid deletion on the HA protein and were antigenically distant from the vaccine strain. Cell-adapted mutations were mainly found in the RNA polymerase. The study suggests that hCK is an effective platform for IBV isolation and culture-adapted mutations may influence virus studies and vaccine development.