Aim: Study of molecular-biological and antigenic features of H5N1 subtype virus strains isolated in southern Siberia in 2005-2009.
Materials and methods: Study was performed by using standard procedures according to WHO recommendations.
Results: Hemagglutinin gene of H5N1 subtype virus strain isolated in Siberia belongs to 2 genetical lineages: 2.2 and 2.3.2. Strains of these 2 lineages have antigenic differences. All of the strains are highly pathogenic for chicken and white mice.
Conclusion: H5N1 subtype highly pathogenic influenza virus variants of 2 different antigenic lineages that have antigenic differences circulated in Siberia in 2005-2009. A possible role of antigenic drift in evolution of H5N1 subtype influenza virus is discussed.