Two phylogenetic cohorts of the nucleocapsid protein NP and their correlation with the host range of influenza A viruses

Influenza A virus has a wide natural areal among birds, mammals and humans. One of the main regulatory adaptors of the virus host range is the major NP protein of the viral nucleocapsid. Phylogenetic analysis of the NP protein of different viruses has revealed the existence of two phylogenetic cohorts in human influenza virus population. Cohort I includes classical human viruses that caused epidemics in 1957, 1968, 1977. Cohort II includes the H1N1/2009pdm virus, which had a mixed avian-swine origin, but caused global human pandemic. Also, the highly virulent H5N1 avian influenza virus emerged in 2021 and caused outbreaks of lethal infections in mammals, including humans, appeared to have the NP gene of the second phylogenetic cohort and, therefore, by the type of adaptation to human is similar to the H1N1/2009pdm virus and seems to possess a high epidemic potential for humans. The data obtained shed light on pathways and dynamics of avian influenza viruses adaptation to humans and propose phylogenetic algorithm for systemic monitoring of dangerous virus strains to predict epidemic harbingers and take immediate preventive measures.