title: [Characterization of epidemic influenza virus A(H3N2) strains circulating in Russia in the 2003-2004 epidemic season].
abstract: Studies indicated that the epidemic rise in the incidence of influenza was caused by its virus A (H3N2) circulation in Russia in the 2003-2004 season. The Center of Influenza Ecology and Epidemiology investigated 101 epidemic strains isolated the MDCK culture. Antigenic analysis showed that all viruses A(H3N2) were similar to the reference virus A/Fujian/411/02(H3N2) and only 5 strains slightly differed from the latter. Twelve (14%) strains resistant to rimantadine at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml were identified. Investigation of paired sera from the patients demonstrated a rise of antibodies to the references of influenza virus A(H3N2) in 68.7% of cases and a less increase in those to influenza viruses A(H1N1) and B. The active circulation of A(H3N2) viruses was due not only to changes in their antigenic structure, but also to the low level of antibodies to these viruses, as shown by the analysis of donor sera.
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Ivanova
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Burtseva
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Slepushkin
authors.forename: M Iu
authors.initials: MIu
authors.lastname: Shchelkanov
authors.forename: Iu V
authors.initials: IuV
authors.lastname: Zagorskaia
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Shevchenko
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Rakutina
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Cherkasov
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Isaeva
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Oskerko
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Feodoritova
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Maslov
authors.forename: R Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Gatich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001782:Blood Donors; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012299:Rimantadine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012426:Russia; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012299:Rimantadine