title: Variation of the conserved neutralizing epitope in influenza B virus victoria group isolates in Japan.
abstract: For almost 20 years, the neutralizing-epitope site specific for influenza B virus Victoria group isolates was conserved at the "tip" of the hemagglutinin molecule; however, it was not detected in half of the isolates from the 2002-2003 epidemic in Japan. Amino acid substitutions (D164E or N165K) were observed at the "tip", and the epitope was altered. The viral antigenicities were affected, and human antibodies did not substantially inhibit the hemagglutination in the hemagglutination inhibition tests. It is suspected that such variants will be important in future epidemics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kobe Institute of Health, 4-6, Minatojima-nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0046 Japan. nknkgw@h2.dion.ne.jp
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuno
mesh_terms: D000939:Epitopes; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus