[The antigenic differentiation of hantaviruses by using monoclonal antibodies].

85 hantavirus (HV) strains from Russia and other counties were examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) prepared against hantaviruses: Hantaan (Hantaan 76-118, A-9 strains), Seoul (SR-1, R-22 strains) and Puumala (Hallnas 83-223 strain). 68 HV strains were differentiated into five virus type groups: Hantaan, Puumala, Seoul, Prospect Hill and Belgrade-Dobrava. 17 strains were found to be antigenically closely related but distinct from Hantaan type (4 strains), Puumala (6 strains) and Prospect Hill (7 strains).

[Genetic differentiation of hantaviruses using the polymerase chain reaction and sequencing].

Thirty-two hantavirus strains and 8 samples of lung tissue from rodents collected in different regions of Russia have been examined by molecular biological methods. Two methodological approaches have been employed for the study of genetic relationships between the viruses: nested PCR assay and common RT-PCR with subsequent direct sequencing of 200 and 365 base pair of G2 protein encoding regions of M-segment, respectively, and the resultant sequences were compared with those of the prototype hantavirus. The study revealed a mosaic pattern of distribution of different hantavirus genotypes on the territory of Russia.

Antigenic relationships of hantavirus strains analysed by monoclonal antibodies.

The antigenic relationships among 71 hantavirus strains, isolated from rodent species or humans in several geographic regions, were examined by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using human patient sera and a panel of 22 monoclonal antibodies prepared against Hantaan, Seoul, and Puumala viruses. The study included virus strains, mainly from the former USSR, for which little or no serological data were available. Fifty-nine of the 71 isolates could be placed into five antigenic groups of hantaviruses, Hantaan (HTN), Puumala (PUU), Seoul (SEO), Prospect Hill (PH), Dobrava/Belgrade (DOB).

[Radioimmunologic analysis for the rapid diagnosis of arbovirus infections].

The employment of radioimmunoassay (RIA) allows arbovirus infections to be diagnosed at an early stage of the illness. In the present study the best variant of RIA was determined with regard to its practical use in rapid diagnosis of some arbovirus infections and its superiority over CFT, HI, IHA, IF. The method was shown to be highly specific and sensitive for qualitative studies of specimens from natural foci of arboviruses and for timely diagnosis of human illnesses.