The antigenic subunits of influenza viruses. I. The homologous antibody response.

Abstract

Antigenic subunits were prepared from nine strains of influenza virus by treatment with deoxycholate. The immunogenicity of these preparations for rabbits was compared with equivalent doses of whole virus vaccines. The primary response to the subunit vaccines was found to be delayed, with little or no production of macroglobulin antibodies. The total quantity of primary antibody at 21 days was about half of that produced by whole virus vaccines. The quality (average equilibrium constant) of the antibodies was the same after the two kinds of vaccine. Anamnestic responses to subunit and whole virus vaccines were indistinguishable both kinetically and in terms of the number or quality of antibody molecules produced.