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Microorganisms
Volume 13
Issue 11
10.3390/microorganisms13112579
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Article

Genetic Evolution of H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in Guangxi, China

by
Minxiu Zhang
1,2,
Sisi Luo
2,
Zhixun Xie
2,*,
Meng Li
2,
Liji Xie
2,
Qing Fan
2,
Can Wang
2,
Tingting Zeng
2,
Hongyu Ren
2,
Xiaofeng Li
2,
Lijun Wan
2,
Zhihua Ruan
2,
Aiqiong Wu
2,
Bingyi Yang
2,
Houxun Ya
2 and
Ting-Rong Luo
1,*
1
College of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
2
Key Laboratory of China (Guangxi)-ASEAN Cross-Border Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, 51 Youai North Road, Nanning 530001, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Microorganisms 2025, 13(11), 2579; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13112579 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 28 August 2025 / Revised: 30 October 2025 / Accepted: 7 November 2025 / Published: 12 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Veterinary Microbiology)
Versions Notes

Abstract

H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) is widely prevalent in poultry in China. To understand the genetic characteristics and evolution of H9N2 AIVs in Guangxi, southern China, the complete genomes of H9N2 AIVs from 1999–2023 were systematically analysed. Maximum likelihood (ML) trees indicated that H9N2 AIV gene sublineage diversity contributed to genotype diversity, yielding 17 genotypes (G1–G17). Since 2010, genotype G14 (also known as genotype S or G57) has become predominant in poultry in Guangxi. Phylogenetic analysis in the HA has resulted in the distancing of recent Guangxi isolates from the vaccine strains. This study also revealed that the genotypes of H9N2 AIVs infecting swine, equines and canines in Guangxi were consistent with those found in avian species at the same time, highlighting the capacity of H9N2 AIVs to be transmitted across species. The antigenic residues in the HA head region and NA protein of the Guangxi isolates from 2020–2023 changed significantly compared to the vaccine strains, suggesting possible antigenic drift in these viruses. Amino acid analysis of the HA protein revealed that 84.9% (73/86) of H9N2 AIV isolates from Guangxi, including those from live poultry markets, preferentially bound to α-2,6 sialic acid receptors. Considerable attention should be given to cross-species transmission of H9N2 AIV in the region. On the basis of these findings, strengthening the monitoring of H9N2 AIV in poultry in Guangxi is essential.
Keywords: H9N2 AIV; Guangxi; molecular evolution; genotype; gene sublineages H9N2 AIV; Guangxi; molecular evolution; genotype; gene sublineages

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, M.; Luo, S.; Xie, Z.; Li, M.; Xie, L.; Fan, Q.; Wang, C.; Zeng, T.; Ren, H.; Li, X.; et al. Genetic Evolution of H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in Guangxi, China. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 2579. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13112579

AMA Style

Zhang M, Luo S, Xie Z, Li M, Xie L, Fan Q, Wang C, Zeng T, Ren H, Li X, et al. Genetic Evolution of H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in Guangxi, China. Microorganisms. 2025; 13(11):2579. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13112579

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Minxiu, Sisi Luo, Zhixun Xie, Meng Li, Liji Xie, Qing Fan, Can Wang, Tingting Zeng, Hongyu Ren, Xiaofeng Li, and et al. 2025. "Genetic Evolution of H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in Guangxi, China" Microorganisms 13, no. 11: 2579. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13112579

APA Style

Zhang, M., Luo, S., Xie, Z., Li, M., Xie, L., Fan, Q., Wang, C., Zeng, T., Ren, H., Li, X., Wan, L., Ruan, Z., Wu, A., Yang, B., Ya, H., & Luo, T.-R. (2025). Genetic Evolution of H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in Guangxi, China. Microorganisms, 13(11), 2579. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13112579

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