Stability of influenza virus as evaluated by integrity of its RNA.

Unlabelled: Various methods of handling samples of avian influenza prior to detecting influenza viruses can significantly influence both, the detection of the virus and the quantification of viral nucleic acids. The quantity of influenza viral RNA remaining in different collecting buffers and kept at temperatures of -20°C, +4°C or +22°C for various lengths of time, was determined. The quantity of viral RNA remained the same for 120 days at -20°C, but decreased when the samples were stored at either +4°C or +22°C.

Stimulation of protective and cross-protective immunity against influenza B virus after adjuvant mucosal immunization of mice.

Intratracheal immunization of mice with inactivated influenza B virus and delipidated Bacillus firmus as adjuvant increases protection of mice against infection with the homologous virus strain and induces cross-protection: mice immunized by influenza virus B/Yamanashi 166/98 were protected even against phylogenetically distant virus drift variant B/Lee/40 lethal for mice.

Protective and cross-protective mucosal immunization of mice by influenza virus type A with bacterial adjuvant.

Mucosal immunization by inactivated viruses often fails to evoke a sufficient immune response. Intensive efforts have been made to enhance the response by suitable adjuvants. We used the G+ nonpathogenic delipidated bacterium Bacillus firmus with pronounced immunostimulatory properties as an adjuvant for immunizing mice with inactivated influenza virus type A.

Adjuvant effect of Bacillus firmus in intranasal immunization of guinea pigs with inactivated type B infuenza virus.

Intranasal immunization of guinea pigs with inactivated type B influenza virus plus inactivated Bacillus firmus as an adjuvant compared to the virus alone yields higher titers of serum hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies and virus-neutralizing antibodies. This phenomenon could be useful in standard serology, especially in the preparation of immune sera against highly pathogenic strains for in vitro diagnosis.

Immune response after adjuvant mucosal immunization of mice with inactivated influenza virus.

Satisfactory mucosal immunity in the respiratory tract is very important for protection against influenza. It can be achieved only by mucosal immunization. Mucosal vaccination with inactivated influenza virus may not be sufficiently effective and suitable adjuvants are therefore sought.