Assessing baloxavir susceptibility of influenza viruses circulating in the United States during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons

Euro Surveill. 2019 Jan;24(3):1800666. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.3.1800666.

Abstract

The anti-influenza therapeutic baloxavir targets cap-dependent endonuclease activity of polymerase acidic (PA) protein. We monitored baloxavir susceptibility in the United States with next generation sequencing analysis supplemented by phenotypic one-cycle infection assay. Analysis of PA sequences of 6,891 influenza A and B viruses collected during 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons showed amino acid substitutions: I38L (two A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses), E23G (two A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses) and I38M (one A(H3N2) virus); conferring 4-10-fold reduced susceptibility to baloxavir.

Keywords: Cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor; drug resistance; influenza; influenza surveillance; next generation sequencing; phenotypic testing; polymerase acidic protein.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution / drug effects*
  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Dibenzothiepins
  • Drug Resistance, Viral / genetics*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / genetics
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / drug effects*
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / genetics
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / isolation & purification
  • Influenza B virus / drug effects*
  • Influenza B virus / genetics
  • Influenza B virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza, Human / drug therapy*
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Morpholines
  • Oxazines / pharmacology*
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Pyridones
  • Seasons
  • Sentinel Surveillance
  • Thiepins / pharmacology*
  • Triazines / pharmacology*
  • United States
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Dibenzothiepins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Morpholines
  • Oxazines
  • Pyridines
  • Pyridones
  • Thiepins
  • Triazines
  • Viral Proteins
  • baloxavir