Predicting the evolution of human influenza A

Eighteen codons in the HA1 domain of the hemagglutinin genes of human influ enza A subtype H3 appear to be under positive selection to change the amino acid they encode. Retrospective tests show that viral Lineages undergoing the greatest number of mutations in the positively selected codons were the progenitors of future H3 Lineages in 9 of 11 recent influenza seasons. Cod ons under positive selection were associated with antibody combining site A or B or the sialic acid receptor binding site. However, not all codons in these sites had predictive value. Monitoring new H3 isolates for additional changes in positively selected codons might help identify the most fit ext ant viral strains that arise during antigenic drift.