Diversity and distribution of type A influenza viruses: an updated panorama analysis based on protein sequences

BACKGROUND: Type A influenza viruses (IAVs) cause significant infections in humans and multiple species of animals including pigs, horses, birds, dogs and some marine animals. They are of complicated phylogenetic diversity and distribution, and analysis of their phylogenetic diversity and distribution from a panorama view has not been updated for multiple years. METHODS: 139,872 protein sequences of IAVs from GenBank were selected, and they were aligned and phylogenetically analyzed using the software tool MEGA 7.0. Lineages and subordinate lineages were classified according to the topology of the phylogenetic trees and the host, temporal and spatial distribution of the viruses, and designated using a novel universal nomenclature system. RESULTS: Large phylogenetic trees of the two external viral genes (HA and NA) and six internal genes (PB2, PB1, PA, NP, MP and NS) were constructed, and the diversity and the host, temporal and spatial distribution of these genes were calculated and statistically analyzed. Various features regarding the diversity and distribution of IAVs were confirmed, revised or added through this study, as compared with previous reports. Lineages and subordinate lineages were classified and designated for each of the genes based on the updated panorama views. CONCLUSIONS: The panorama views of phylogenetic diversity and distribution of IAVs and their nomenclature system were updated and assumed to be of significance for studies and communication of IAVs. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12985-019-1188-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.