PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Edward J. Annand
AU  - Bethany A. Horsburgh
AU  - Kai Xu
AU  - Peter A. Reid
AU  - Ben Poole
AU  - Maximillian C. de Kantzow
AU  - Nicole Brown
AU  - Alison Tweedie
AU  - Michelle Michie
AU  - John D. Grewar
AU  - Anne E. Jackson
AU  - Nagendrakumar B. Singanallur
AU  - Karren M. Plain
AU  - Karan Kim
AU  - Mary Tachedjian
AU  - Brenda van der Heide
AU  - Sandra Crameri
AU  - David T. Williams
AU  - Cristy Secombe
AU  - Eric D. Laing
AU  - Spencer Sterling
AU  - Lianying Yan
AU  - Louise Jackson
AU  - Cheryl Jones
AU  - Raina K. Plowright
AU  - Alison J. Peel
AU  - Andrew C. Breed
AU  - Ibrahim Diallo
AU  - Navneet K. Dhand
AU  - Philip N. Britton
AU  - Christopher C. Broder
AU  - Ina Smith
AU  - John-Sebastian Eden
TI  - Novel Hendra virus variant detected by sentinel surveillance of Australian horses
AID  - 10.1101/2021.07.16.452724
DP  - 2021 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2021.07.16.452724
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/09/22/2021.07.16.452724.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/09/22/2021.07.16.452724.full
AB  - A novel Hendra virus (HeV) variant, not detected by routine testing, was identified and isolated from a Queensland horse that suffered acute, fatal disease consistent with HeV infection. Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the variant to have ~83% nucleotide identity to the prototype HeV strain. An updated RT-qPCR assay was designed for routine HeV surveillance. In silico and in vitro comparison of the receptor-binding protein with prototypic HeV showed that the human monoclonal antibody m102.4 used for post-exposure prophylaxis, as well as the current equine vaccine, should be effective against this variant. Genetic similarity of this virus to sequences detected from grey-headed flying-foxes suggests the variant circulates at-least in this species. Studies determining infection kinetics, pathogenicity, reservoir-species associations, viral–host co-evolution and spillover dynamics for this virus are urgently needed. Surveillance and biosecurity practices should be updated to appreciate HeV spillover risk across all regions frequented by flying foxes.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.