title: Amino acid sequence changes in the haemagglutinin of A/Hong Kong (H3N2) influenza virus during the period 1968--77.
abstract: Haemagglutinin molecules from nine strains of A/Hong Kong/68 (H3N2) influenza virus, isolated between 1968 and 1977, were examined for changes in amino acid sequences. At least 18 changes, 9 of which were located precisely, occurred in the soluble tryptic peptides of the large haemagglutinin polypeptide (HA1) during this period. These peptides contained 262 residues (82% of HA1). In HA2, only two changes in 129 residues (58% of HA2) were detected. Sequential changes at a particular locus were not found; and as far as we can tell, once an amino acid changed, it did not change again in any subsequent variant examined.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003062:Codon; D000939:Epitopes; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009154:Mutation; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D003062:Codon; D000939:Epitopes; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral