Influenza neuraminidase antibody patterns of man.

Abstract

Distribution of antibodies against neuraminidases (mucopolysaccharide N-acetylneuraminylhydrolase (EC 3.2.1.18)) of type A influenza viruses (Hong Kong, Asian, equine-2, A1, A0 and A/swine) was determined in a 1955 collection of human sera pooled by two-year age groups. Antigens were suitable recombinants or soluble enzymes. Antibodies were detected by a chemical enzyme inhibition test employing fetuin as substrate. For Asw, A0, and A1 neuraminidases, distinctive antibody patterns were obtained which reflected periods of prevalence of these viruses in man. Antibody against Hong Kong neuraminidase was absent in sera from all ages, indicating that this enzyme had not been associated with viruses previously prevalent. Antibodies to equine-2 neuraminidase were at peak levels in pools representing birth years 1893 and before, persisting at lower levels until birth years 1914–1915, indicating that equine-2 neuraminidase was the enzyme of Hong Kong-like viruses prevalent around 1900 and that some of the antigenic characters persisted in a virus prevalent from the early 1900's until 1916 or 1917.