[Enhanced immunogenicity of influenza virus surface proteins when incorporated into liposomes]

A method for incorporation of influenza virus surface proteins into monolayer liposomes has been developed on the basis of removal of dialysed non-ionic detergent (beta-octyl glucoside) from a mixture of viral proteins and lipids. The resulting lipid-protein complexes (virosomes) are similar to intact virus particles by their morphological parameters. The immunogenicity of hemagglutinin incorporated into virosomes was significantly higher than that in the preparation of surface proteins isolated from virions which was inoculated into mice with or without complete Freund's adjuvant. The high immunogenicity of hemagglutinin incorporated into liposomes correlated with their high hemagglutinating activity. The possibility of using virosomes as subunit influenza vaccines is discussed.