Seroconversion and immunogenicity evaluation of seasonal influenza vaccine in mice model

Influenza virus is epidemiologically very important due to the antigenic variations occurring in it. In present study isolation and identification of influenza virus was attempted from Kasauli and adjoining areas. 71 clinical samples i.e. throat washings were processed and inoculated into the eggs for virus isolation. The isolated strains of H3N2, H1N1 and Influenza B were identified, purified and passaged in eggs. The harvested virus was inactivated by 0.03 % formalin and three formulations of crude, inactivated, whole virus monovalent vaccine for H3N2, H1N1 and influenza B as well as a trivalent vaccine was prepared. The immunogenicity study of the vaccine was performed in the mouse model by using varying dilutions of four types of vaccines for a period of 40 days. The impact of booster dose was also analyzed in the study. A significant seroconversion was observed in the mice sera verifying that the monovalent and trivalent lots of influenza vaccine were antigenically effective based on the serological tests.