Antigenic Analysis of Influenza Viruses by Complement Fixation

Abstract

Summary: Methods are described for the production in guinea pigs of antibodies to the complement fixing V antigens of influenza viruses. The antisera were free of measurable antibodies to the type specific S antigen. Antisera were prepared against 34 variants of type A which were representative of isolates covering the years 1931 to the present, and to the Lee strain of type B. On cross-matching them with the corresponding V antigens they were seen to be highly strain-specific. The antigenic patterns so revealed were in general agreement with those obtained in other laboratories by hemagglutination inhibition. The results indicate that the complement fixation test can be employed for strain analysis, disclosing thereby major, minor and minimal components which comprise the mosaic of antigens of a given strain. The implications of applying the technique to other problems dealing with strain specificity are discussed.