Comparative anti-influenza vaccination of some groups of the population with vaccines differing in virus purification level.

A total of 1215 persons, divided into 4 groups, were immunized with influenza vaccines A (highly purified, whole-virion), B (subunit, containing H and M), and C (conventional, commercial partly purified by Sharplers centrifugation). Post-vaccination reactions were followed, and serological tests (HI and NI) were performed with serum specimens taken from each vaccine 4 times during and after the vaccination period. The results point to clear superiority of purified and subunit vaccines over the conventional one.

Metaplasia of the lung respiratory epithelium and antibody dynamics in mice repeatedly infected with various subtypes of influenza virus A.

Mice were repeatedly infected with consecutive doses of mouse-adapted strains of influenza virus A HON1, H1N1, H2N2, and H3N2. Homo- and heterologous antibody levels as well as the incidence of metaplasia were followed. Statistically significant correlation was found between the metaplasia incidence and higher level of antibodies homologous to virus used for a given challenge dose.

Metaplasia of the lung alveolar epithelium in mice repeatedly challenged with influenza virus.

Mice were repeatedly infected intranasally with increasing doses of influenza virus. A correlation was observed between the incidence of metaplasia of the lung alveolar epithelium and serum antibody levels.

The dynamics of serum antibodies and metaplasia of the lung respiratory epithelium in influenza-virus-preimmunized mice subjected to immunosuppression.

Mice preimmunized with influenza virus A Scotland 840/74 H3N2 were given cyclophosphamide or hydrocortisone, then challenged with the same active virus. Serum antibody levels and metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium were followed for the next two weeks. Administration of the immunosuppressors was found to decrease antibody levels, and to delay the appearance of metaplasia by 7 days as compared with controls.

Attempts at detection of actomyosin associated with influenza virus.

Influenza virus strans A/Scotland/74, A/Hong Kong/68, A/Port Chalmers/73 and the MRC-12 recombinant were tested with immune antiserum against actomyosin. As shown by electron microscopy, the serum aggregated virus particles, but only after bromelain treatment (without haemagglutinin and neuraminidase spikes). In rocket electrophoresis the serum gave positive precipitation reaction with all the strains tested, and with virus from various hosts (chick embryo, monkey kidney cell culture, mice after adaptation). There fore the host protein presumably is present in the influenza virus structure irrespective of the strain or the host in which the virus is grown.

Squamous metaplasia of the lung alveolar epithelium in mice after influenza virus infection.

Metaplasia of the lung alveolar epithelium was observed in mice challenged with influenza virus after previous infection, and in mice repeatedly infected. Immunological factors are suggested to contribute to the development of the process.

Clearance of antibody and complement in serum after challenge of mice previously vaccinated or infected with influenza virus.

Mice previously vaccinated or convalescent after infection with mouse-adapted influenza virus were challenged by various routes with live or inactivated virus. The levels of haemagglutination inhibiting and complement-fixing antibodies and complement in serum were found to decrease distinctly within several hours after challenge: the reconstitution to initial levels occurred within three days.

Autoantibodies in human sera after vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine.

Sera from persons vaccinated with inactivated bivalent influenza vaccine were tested for the presence of smooth-muscle antibodies (SMA) and antibodies against the brush border of proximal renal tubuli (ABBA). The autoantibodies were found with the highest frequency in persons repeatedly vaccinated with the vaccine.