Key Amino Acid Residues That Determine the Antigenic Properties of Highly Pathogenic H5 Influenza Viruses Bearing the Clade 2.3.4.4 Hemagglutinin Gene

The H5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses bearing the clade 2.3.4.4 HA gene have been pervasive among domestic poultry and wild birds worldwide since 2014, presenting substantial risks to human and animal health. Continued circulation of clade 2.3.4.4 viruses has resulted in the emergence of eight subclades (2.3.4.4a–h) and multiple distinct antigenic groups. However, the key antigenic substitutions responsible for the antigenic change of these viruses remain unknown. In this study, we analyzed the HA gene sequences of 5713 clade 2.3.4.4 viruses obtained from a public database and found that 23 amino acid residues were highly variable among these strains. We then generated a series of single-amino-acid mutants based on the H5-Re8 (a vaccine seed virus) background and tested their reactivity with a panel of eight monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Six mutants bearing amino acid substitutions at positions 120, 126, 141, 156, 185, or 189 (H5 numbering) led to reduced or lost reactivity to these mAbs. Further antigenic cartography analysis revealed that the amino acid residues at positions 126, 156, and 189 acted as immunodominant epitopes of H5 viruses. Collectively, our findings offer valuable guidance for the surveillance and early detection of emerging antigenic variants.