RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Sheng, Zizhang A1 Liu, Runxia A1 Yu, Jieshi A1 Ran, Zhiguang A1 Newkirk, Simon J. A1 An, Wenfeng A1 Li, Feng A1 Wang, DanYR 2018 T1 Identification and characterization of viral defective RNA genomes in influenza B virus JF Journal of General Virology, VO 99 IS 4 SP 475 OP 488 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.001018 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB Influenza B virus (FLUBV) is an important pathogen that infects humans and causes seasonal influenza epidemics. To date, little is known about defective genomes of FLUBV and their roles in viral replication. In this study, by using a next-generation sequencing approach, we analyzed total mRNAs extracted from A549 cells infected with B/Brisbane/60/2008 virus (Victoria lineage), and identified four defective FLUBV genomes with two (PB1∆A and PB1∆B) from the polymerase basic subunit 1 (PB1) segment and the other two (M∆A and M∆B) from the matrix (M) protein-encoding segment. These defective genomes contained significant deletions in the central regions with each having the potential for encoding a novel polypeptide. Significantly, each of the discovered defective RNAs can potently inhibit the replication of B/Yamanashi/166/98 (Yamagata lineage). Furthermore, PB1∆A was able to interfere modestly with influenza A virus (FLUAV) replication. In summary, our study provides important initial insights into FLUBV defective-interfering genomes, which can be further explored to achieve better understanding of the replication, pathogenesis and evolution of FLUBV., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/jgv.0.001018