The specificity of the anti-haemagglutinin antibody response induced in man by inactivated influenza vaccines and by natural infection

Abstract

SUMMARYThe anti-haemagglutinin antibody response in adult human volunteers to inactivated whole virus or tween ether split influenza A/Victoria/75 (H3N2) and A/Scotland/74 (H3N2) virus vaccines was investigated using antibody adsorption and single-radial-haemolysis (SRH)

Quantitation and analysis of the specificity of post-immunization antibodies to influenza B viruses using single radial haemolysis

“…The plates were incubated in a humid atmosphere at 37°C and the zones of haemolysis developing after 4 h and 18 h were measured using a calibrating viewer (Transdyne General Corporation). An increase in SRH zone area of 500 was considered to indicate a significant rise in antibody titre as described previously for influenza A viruses (Oxford et al 1979).…”

Antigenicity in hamsters of inactivated vaccines prepared from recombinant influenza viruses

“…(c) Single radial haemolysi8 (SRH) SRH was carried out to determine the antibody response of hamsters to immunization, using the methods of Oxford et al (1979). Immunoplates containing virus-sensitized cells and guinea-pig complement in agarose gels were prepared according to standard methods (Schild, Oxford & Virelizier, 1976).…”

“…The concentration of HA in the inactivated virus vaccines prepared from different recombinant viruses was standardized by rocket immunoelectrophoresis (Laurell, 1965;Oxford, et al 1979), using monospecific antiserum to purified influenza virus RIT 4050 HA. This antiserum was prepared according to the methods of Brand & Skehel (1972).…”

Strain specificity of serum antibody to the haemagglutinin of influenza A (H3N2) viruses in children following immunization or natural infection

“…The relative importance in protection against influenza infection of antibody to the different antigenic determinants and the immunogenic nature of the HA is not known at present. However, it has been clearly established both in animals (Virelizier, 1975) and in man (Schild et al 1977;Couch et al 1979;Kasel et al 1979;Oxford et al 1979) that, following immunization or infection, at least two classes of antibodies are induced, one of which is narrowly specific, reacting with the HA antigens of the homologous and closely related virus strains (strain-specific, SS) whilst the other is more broadly specific (cross-reactive, CR) reacting with a wide range of antigenic variants within the antigenic subtype. Recent work has established that SS antibody has a higher intrinsic virus neutralizing capacity (per ,tg IgG) than CR antibody (Haaheim & Schild, 1980), and thus induction of SS antibody by vaccination, might be expected to give better protection against infection than do CR antibodies.…”

“…Following immunization with inactivated influenza vaccines most such individuals produced mainly antibodies reacting with the CR determinants of the HA antigens of H3N2 strains (Kasel et at. 1976;Schild et al 1977;Couch et al 1979;Kasel et al 1979;Oxford et al 1979). In contrast, SS antibody to the HA of the vaccine virus was produced in only a small proportion of vaccinees.…”