[Use of highly purified subvirion trivalent flue vaccine ("Grippovak") in groups with a high risk of complications].

During the epidemic season of 1989-1990 the subunit vaccine Grippovac was used in 20 asylums for old people and psychoneurological invalids in Moscow for the protection of the inhabitants and the personnel from influenza. Follow-up of the vaccinees during the period from November 1989 to March 1990 revealed that the use of this vaccine decreased the incidence of influenza-like diseases (ILD) 3.4-4.

Recognition by human A and B influenza viruses of 8- and 7-carbon analogues of sialic acid modified in the polyhydroxyl side chain.

To evaluate the recognition by influenza viruses of the C9-C7 polyhydroxylated moiety of sialic acid (SA) receptor determinant a novel assay has been developed based on the assessment of binding by the solid-phase immobilized virus of the enzyme-labeled sialyglycoprotein fetuin treated by periodate or periodate/borohydride to contain an 8-carbon aldehyde, 7-carbon aldehyde, or corresponding hydroxyl analogues of SA. Some features of recognition by human influenza viruses of these SA analogues were type and subtype specific, especially marked differences being found between type A and type B viruses. At the same time a significant diversity was observed among virus strains belonging to the same subtype.

Heterogeneity of influenza B virus strains isolated in a local area of the disease during an influenza outbreak.

Ten strains of influenza B virus isolated in a local focus during an influenza outbreak were found to include 9 virus strain variants as demonstrated by different antigenicity of their haemagglutinin, ts-marker, sensitivity to heating at 56 degrees C/30 min, and to non-specific serum inhibitors. These strains induced antibodies in rats which interacted more actively with the virus isolated in earlier periods of this outbreak than with that isolated later. It might indicate that all strains originated from the same parent strain of virus, which induced the influenza outbreak in this area.

[Antigenic characteristics of influenza B virus strains isolated in an orphanage during an influenza outbreak in Moscow in the winter of 1988].

Examinations of ARD patients in an orphanage for defective children in Moscow during an influenza outbreak in the winter of 1988 yielded 12 influenza virus strains, including 6 influenza B strains and 6 influenza A (H3N2) strains. The antigenic analysis of hemagglutinin of influenza B virus isolates showed that with respect to the B/Leningrad/179/86 strain (an antigenic analogue of B/Ann Arbor/1/86 strain recommended for inclusion into the influenza vaccine for 1987-1988) they could be divided into 2 groups: antigenically close to the B/Leningrad/86 strain (isolate B/712) and markedly differing from it (the remaining isolates). As compared with reference strains of the previous years, all the new virus isolates fell into 4 groups: isolate B/712 antigenically related to B/Hong Kong/73 and B/Leningrad/86 strains; B/722 antigenically close to B/Singapore/222/79 and B/USSR/100/83 strains; B/724, an antigenic analogue to B/USSR/100/83; and the remaining isolates, to some or other extent, differing from various reference strains.