Immunogenicity of a Synthetic Peptide Corresponding to a Portion of the Heavy Chain of H3N2 Influenza Virus Haemagglutinin

• Published in: Journal of general virology 1987-08, Vol.68 (8), p.2249-2252
• Main Authors: Hamsikova, E, Zavadova, H, Zaoral, M, Jezek, J, Blaha, K, Vonka, V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antigen-Antibody Complex; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; Hemagglutinins, Viral - immunology; influenza A virus; Influenza A virus - immunology; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype; Macromolecular Substances; Microbiology; Peptides - immunology; Radioimmunoassay; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies; Virology
• ISSN: 0022-1317; 1465-2099
• DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-68-8-2249

1 Department of Experimental Virology, Institute of Sera and Vaccines, Prague and 2 Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechoslovakia Rabbits were immunized with a synthetic octadecapeptide corresponding to the sequence ser-91 to leu-108 of the haemagglutinin heavy chain of H3N2 influenza A viruses. They developed antibodies reactive in solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA) with the peptide and with haemagglutinins of various H3N2 viruses but not of heterotypic H1N1 and H2N2 viruses. The antibodies were also non-reactive in the haemagglutination-inhibition or neutralization test. Influenza H3N2 virus replicated in the lungs of mice immunized with the peptide to the same extent as in the control mice. Of 27 human sera possessing anti-H3N2 activity or seven sera from rabbits immunized with either virions or haemagglutinins of various influenza A viruses, none was reactive with the peptide in SPRIA. Keywords: influenza A virus, synthetic peptide, immunogenicity Received 27 November 1986; accepted 21 April 1987.