Antigenic Differences Between Two Strains of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

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Abstract
Summary A strain of RS virus (the CH 18537 strain isolated during 1962) was demonstrated to differ antigenically from the Long strain (isolated during 1956). This difference was reciprocal when neutralization tests were carried out using post infection ferret serum. Reinoculation of the ferrets with the Long and CH 18537 strains generally resulted in reinfection which was manifest by a broadening of the antibody spectrum with little or no change in the homologous antibody titer. In addition the growth of the CH 18537 strain in the ferret turbinate was studied and found to be different from that of the A-1 strain of RS virus. Differences between the Long and the CH 18537 strains of RS virus were minimal when the viruses were used to assay antibody response of infants infected with RS virus during 1956, 1960 and 1962. However, 2 infants infected with RS virus during 1956 developed antibodies which were more reactive with the 1962 isolate. It was suggested that variants of RS virus may circulate simultaneously in the same human population. The pertinence of these findings to development of immunoprophylaxis was discussed.
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