MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO HEMAGGLUTININ OF INFLUENZA B VIRUSES VICTORIA EVOLUTIONARY LINEAGE

Abstract

Co-circulation of two evolutionary distinct lineages of influenza virus in one epidemic season has led to development specific reagents for rapid identification and typing of new isolates. Panel of MAbs to hemagglutinin of influenza virus B/Brisbane/46/15 belonging to Victoria evolutionary lineage was developed. All MAbs reacted in ELISA with B/Victoria-like strains only. There were no interactions with heterologous influenza viruses of B/Yamagata lineage, seasonal and potentially pandemic influenza A viruses. All MAbs reacted in hemagglutination inhibition and virus neutralization. MAbs interacted in hemagglutination inhibition only with B/Victoria-like viruses, but did not interacted B/Yamagata-like strains. Neutralization and hemagglutination inhibition studies of viruses isolated before 1983 with MAbs revealed that MAbs 6E11, 9G5, 9B5 and 6A4 had the ability to interact with the virus B/ Russia/69 which may evidence that B strains of early isolation period (before lineage separation) have common epitope with recent Victoria lineage viruses. MAbs 7C8, 7G9, 7H8 and 8D11 were directed to a conserved epitope (or epitopes) specific for influenza hemagglutinin viruses of B/Victoria group. The presence of differences in the effectiveness of the interaction of MAbs 6A9, 7G9 and 8A8 in hemagglutination inhibition test allows the identification and differentiation of strains isolated in chicken embryos and MDCK cell culture. Thus, the developed MAbs can be successfully used for identification and antigenic analysis of B/Victoria-like strains.