Antigenic and genomic relation between human influenza A (h3N2)viruses circulating in Argentina during 1998 and the H3N2 vaccine component

ABSTRACT

Objective. Due to the lack of correlation from 1994 to 1997 between the A H3N2 componet of the influenza vaccine recomended for this period and the circulating viruses in Argentina, we decided to study the antigenic and genomic relationships of the 1998 A H3N2 Argentine circulating strains with the corresponding vaccine component for that year as recomemded by the World Health Organization (WHO). Methods. We selected 18 influenza A H3N2 strains isolated in Argentina during 1998 to carry out an antigenic and genomic study of their hemagglutinin (HA)AND NEURAMINIDASE (NA)protein. For the genomic study we added 3 isolates froms Uruguay. We compared the Argentine and and Uruguayan strains with available reference strains. Results. We found that all18 strins from Argentina were similar to the A/Sydney/597 (H3N2)strain, as opposed to thr A/wUHAM/395/95 (H3N2) strain, which was the vaccine componet. This result was confirmed by the genomic study. Conclusions. The approach that we applied in Argentina has impoved the quality and quantity of information about influenza in the most appropriate vaccine components each year and provide individuals with the best possible protection against influenza