title: Laboratory characterization of influenza A viruses (H3N2)--pathogens of Leningrad 1983 epidemic.
abstract: Seventy strains of influenza A virus (H3N2) isolated in Leningrad during the influenza epidemic in January--March 1983 were studied. The virus isolates appeared to be markedly heterogeneous with respect to antigenic characteristics of surface glycoproteins, biological properties (haemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities, sensitivity to gamma-inhibitors, etc.) as well as genome structure. The identity of the virus isolates with the reference influenza A virus was as follows: 10% were similar to A/Texas/1/77 virus, 30% to A/Bangkok/1/79 virus, and 20% to A/Philippines/2/82 virus. A large part of the isolated viruses (27 of 70) were characterized by a certain (mainly unilateral) relatedness with the virus A/Victoria/35/72. The isolates were extremely heterogeneous with respect to genomic characteristics as determined by cRNA-vRNA hybridization test and differed from the corresponding reference strains by the homology of genes 1-6.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D000939:Epitopes; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000276:immunology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012313:RNA; D018075:RNA, Complementary; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014586:USSR
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D018075:RNA, Complementary; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012313:RNA; D009439:Neuraminidase