Heterogeneity of Influenza B Virus Strains in One Epidemic Season Differentiated by Monoclonal Antibodies and Nucleotide Sequences

Abstract

Seventy-three B/Victoria group strains isolated in the 1996-1997 influenza season were divided into three groups according to the degree of reactivity to monoclonal antibody 8E6. Analysis of nucleotide sequences of the HA1 region clarified that single amino acid substitutions were responsible for the difference in reactivity to 8E6.