[Epitope analysis of the hemagglutinin molecule of the Victoria lineage influenza B viruses]

A panel of five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to the HA1 molecule of the influenza B virus of the Victorian lineage with high virus-neutralizing activity was developed. For identification of the virus neutralizing epitopes in HA1 escape mutants (EM) of the influenza BIShandong/07/97 and B/Malaysia/2506/04 virus were selected using virus- neutralizing antibodies (MAbs). Three EMs had single, two--double and one--triple amino acid substitutions (AAS) in HA1 (H122N, A202E, K203T, K2031, K203N or A317V). In addition, AAS N197S was detected in three EMs. A correlation of AAS identified with peculiarities of interaction of EMs with Mabs was discussed.