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

J Hyg (Lond). 1981 Feb;86(1):17-26. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400068704.

Abstract

The specificity of serum anti-HA antibody from children immunized or infected with A/Victoria/75 (H3N2 or A/Texas/77 (H3N2) virus was examined using the single radial haemolysis test together with adsorption of antibody with three antigenic variants A/Hong Kong/68 (H3N2), A/Port Chalmers/73 (H3N2) and A/Victoria/75 (H3N2). The majority of young children reacted to vaccination or infection by producing strain-specific (SS) antibody to the homologous virus. A small proportion of children's sera contained cross-reacting (CR) antibodies capable of reacting with the haemagglutinins of all antigenic variants of the sub-type including A/HK/1/68. In contrast, most adults reacted immunologically to either vaccination or infection by producing CR antibody, reacting with all variants of the antigenic subtype including the prototype virus A/HK/1/68 (H3N2).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibody Formation*
  • Antibody Specificity*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross Reactions
  • Hemolysis
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype*
  • Influenza A virus / immunology*
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
  • Influenza, Human / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines