phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at o:4916 DOI 10.3390/v17050685 Genetic Characterization of Kazakhstan Isolates: Avian Influenza H9N2 Viruses Demonstrate Their Potential to Infect Mammals Low pathogenic H9N2 avian influenza viruses have become widespread in wild birds and poultry worldwide, raising concerns about their potential to spark pandemics or their role in enhancing the virulence and infectivity of H5Nx viruses through genetic reassortment. Therefore, influenza monitoring studies, including those of H9N2 viruses, are crucial for understanding, evaluating, and mitigating the risks associated with avian infections, and have broader implications for global public health. Although H9N2 viruses are not considered enzootic in Kazakhstan, they have been repeatedly detected in wild waterfowls and domestic poultry. In this study, all eight gene segments of influenza A/H9N2 viruses isolated in various regions of Kazakhstan between 2014 and 2020 were sequenced and analyzed. Molecular characterization revealed the presence of genetic markers associated with mammalian infectivity and disease potential. Furthermore, their predicted receptor binding site sequences indicate their potential capacity to attach to human-type receptors. These findings highlight the importance of continued surveillance and molecular investigation to better understand the evolution and zoonotic potential of H9N2 viruses in Kazakhstan. eng Influenza A Virus H9N2 Subtype Bird Genome Variability Phylogenesis Hemagglutinin Adaption Transmission 2026-02-11T09:49:04.359Z LOMv1.0 Author BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Baikara;Barshagul; FN:Barshagul Baikara X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0170-2173 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Daulbayeva;Klara; FN:Klara Daulbayeva END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Sabyrzhan;Temirlan; FN:Temirlan Sabyrzhan X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7564-2097 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Nuralibekov;Sardor; FN:Sardor Nuralibekov X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3979-6424 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Khan;Yelizaveta; FN:Yelizaveta Khan END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Sandybayev;Nurlan; FN:Nurlan Sandybayev X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1814-2798 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Fereidouni;Sasan; FN:Sasan Fereidouni X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3508-991X END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Kydyrmanov;Aidyn; FN:Aidyn Kydyrmanov END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Karamendin;Kobey; FN:Kobey Karamendin X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0829-3330 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Kassymbekov;Yermukhammet; FN:Yermukhammet Kassymbekov X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8773-4984 END:VCARD https://w3id.org/kim/hcrt/scheme https://w3id.org/kim/hcrt/text Textdokument Text LOMv1.0 yes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 application/pdf 2080176 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4916 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:4916/thumbnail LOMv1.0 discipline