ANTIGENIC BEHAVIOR OF CERTAIN HUNGARIAN STRAINS OF EPIDEMIC INFLUENZA VIRUS

Abstract

A comparative study is reported of the antigenic behavior of 5 Hungarian strains of human influenza virus with the WS (English) and the PR8 (American) strains and the swine influenza virus of Shope. The Hungarian strains tend to form a group and are distinguishable from both the WS and PR8 strains, and differ widely from the swine influenza virus. One of the Hungarian strains, however, gives rise to antibodies which are rather highly specific for the homologous virus although this virus is effectively neutralized by immune sera of the other Hungarian strains. The possible bearing of strain divergencies upon successful vaccination against epidemic influenza is briefly discussed.