Immunological Characteristics of Influenza Precipitating Antibody as Demonstrated by Counterimmunoelectrophoresis

摘要

Antibody to influenza infection was determined by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE). The antibody resulting from influenza disease reacted to both related and distant strains of influenza A antigen but not to influenza B antigen. CIE antibody was not demonstrable following immunizations with inactivated influenza vaccine. While influenza antibody, as demonstrated by CIE, was always associated with elevated complement fixation antibody, the reverse was not the case. Since the precipitating antibody was only detected in those individuals with influenza disease, the test could serve as an early alert signal during surveillance of an impending influenza A epidemic. (Author)