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Decoding Influenza: Analyzing Drug Resistance Patterns in Neuraminidase Genes to Combat Antiviral Ineffectiveness

JSHS · 2025

Ananya Mantri, Mrs. Amy Gonzalez · Northeast Lauderdale High School, Meridian, MS

Overview

The increasing prevalence of antiviral drug resistance in influenza viruses poses a significant threat to public health. Neuraminidase inhibitors, such as Oseltamivir, are widely used to treat influenza, but their effectiveness has diminished due to resist ance-conferring mutations in the neuraminidase (NA) gene. This study aims to identify key mutations linked to resistance and analyze their impact on antiviral sensitivity. It was hypothesized that influenza viruses exhibit distinct drug resistance patterns , with specific NA mutations being more prevalent in resistant strains. Influenza A (H1N1, H3N2) and influenza Bvirus strains from the 2020 –2021 and 2022 –2023 seasons were selected for analysis using the NCBI GenBank database. Neuraminidase protein sequences were aligned with reference sequences using Clustal Omega to detect resistance- associated mutations. Mutations such as H275Y and D197N, previously linked to reduced susceptibility to Oseltamivir, were examined. Resistance levels were categorized based on IC50 values obtained from literature reviews. Higher IC50 values, indicating reduced susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitors, were correlated with specific mutations. The H275Y mutation, in particular, was associated with significant Oseltamivir resistance. The findings support the hypothesis that certain mutations have a major impact on antiviral susceptibility and occur more frequently in resistant strains. This study highlights the importance of continuous surveillance of resistance-conferring mutations to inform antiviral treatment strategies and public health initiatives. Understanding resistance patterns can aid in the development of more effective antivi ral drugs and vaccines, ultimately improving the management of future influenza outbreaks.

Competition history

  • JSHS 2025 Category not listed

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Source: Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

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