https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4916 Genetic Characterization of Kazakhstan Isolates: Avian Influenza H9N2 Viruses Demonstrate Their Potential to Infect Mammals Baikara, Barshagul Barshagul Baikara 0000-0002-0170-2173 Research and Production Center for Microbiology and Virology, Almaty A26T6C0, Kazakhstan Daulbayeva, Klara Klara Daulbayeva Research and Production Center for Microbiology and Virology, Almaty A26T6C0, Kazakhstan Sabyrzhan, Temirlan Temirlan Sabyrzhan 0000-0002-7564-2097 Research and Production Center for Microbiology and Virology, Almaty A26T6C0, Kazakhstan Nuralibekov, Sardor Sardor Nuralibekov 0000-0003-3979-6424 Research and Production Center for Microbiology and Virology, Almaty A26T6C0, Kazakhstan Khan, Yelizaveta Yelizaveta Khan Research and Production Center for Microbiology and Virology, Almaty A26T6C0, Kazakhstan Sandybayev, Nurlan Nurlan Sandybayev 0000-0003-1814-2798 Kazakhstan-Japan Innovation Centre, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU), Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan Fereidouni, Sasan Sasan Fereidouni 0000-0002-3508-991X Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1160 Vienna, Austria Kydyrmanov, Aidyn Aidyn Kydyrmanov Research and Production Center for Microbiology and Virology, Almaty A26T6C0, Kazakhstan Karamendin, Kobey Kobey Karamendin 0000-0003-0829-3330 Research and Production Center for Microbiology and Virology, Almaty A26T6C0, Kazakhstan Kassymbekov, Yermukhammet Yermukhammet Kassymbekov 0000-0002-8773-4984 Research and Production Center for Microbiology and Virology, Almaty A26T6C0, Kazakhstan MDPI journal article open access eng 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. Influenza A Virus H9N2 Subtype Bird Genome Variability Phylogenesis Hemagglutinin Adaption Transmission http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:4916/download 10.3390/v17050685 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Viruses issn:1999-4915 VoR Viruses 17 5 1.98 MB 2025